The Effect of Sibling Status on School Performance: A secondary analysis of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health

Background Academic performance for undergraduate students can be affected by many factors such as extracurricular activities, family life, jobs, and daily life stressors. The purpose of this study was to explore if having older siblings would have a difference in how individuals feel about school compared to those who have no siblings. Method Undergraduate college students at a university were recruited to participate in a cross-sectional study exploring college students’ experiences and if having siblings influence their academic performance. An online survey format was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. Frequencies, chi-square analysis and multivariate regression were used to explore the relationship among the different variables. Results 160 students that participated in this study. There was a significant difference based on sibling status and if they were happy to attend college (p - value = .02). College students who had older siblings were happier to be at the university when compared to students with no siblings. There was no significant difference between being an only child and having siblings related to GPA. Discussion Although there were no significant findings related to academic achievement and number of siblings, the idea of students with siblings being happier in school may stem from having more social interaction with their siblings rather than an only child. This promotes a smoother transition to the college environment. The students will also feel a sense of freedom and independence being away from home and having that college experience.