“There was no observable preference for the first or second child,” Diane Putnick, a study co-author a developmental psychologist at the NIH tells Inverse. Mothers engaged in 15 percent more play with older children, and younger siblings received roughly four percent more praise and 9 percent more physical affection.

Do parents prefer their first child?

Most parents have a favourite child, and its probably the eldest, according to researchers. A study conducted at the University of California shows that out of 768 parents surveyed, 70 per cent of mothers and 74 per cent of fathers admitted to having a favourite child.

Why do parents always favor the eldest child?

A large proportion of parents consistently favor one child over another. This favoritism can manifest in different ways: more time spent with one child, more affection given, more privileges, less discipline, or less abuse. For example, parents give more attention to newborns than they do to their older children.

Do parents always love their first born more?

A research has put to rest all this confusion and shown how parents favour one child over the other. According to a study published by the Journal of Marriage and Family, 75 per cent of mothers report feeling closer to the eldest child, her first born.

Do First borns get better genes?

According to a recent study from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), firstborn children do better than their younger siblings in school. For example, as Derek Thompson of the Atlantic notes, some might argue that its genetic, in the sense that later kids are receiving diminished genetic endowment.

Are older or younger siblings more successful?

Researchers studying toddlers found that big sisters were far more likely than big brothers to spend time playing with and reading to their younger siblings. Kids who grow up with a big sister may be more successful in life, a new study suggests.

Are the youngest siblings the favorite?

A study which looked at how parents are perceived to treat their children differently has produced some interesting findings. Researchers Susan M. McHale and Alexander C. Jensen concluded that younger siblings tend to be the favourite largely because they see themselves as the favourite.

Is the middle child most likely to be depressed?

They explain that one study in 2003 found that middle children were more likely to develop depression. However, a follow-up study in 2016 found that oldest children seem to be more likely to develop mental illnesses such as depression.

Are older siblings more likely to be depressed?

This study hypothesizes that the first born is more susceptible to depression than the middle and youngest child. The oldest child has more expectations to follow compared to his/her counterparts. Most children are nurtured in a positive way when they are young.