Sibling rivalry during second-child pregnancy: Manifestations and management strategies

• Main Author: PEREIRA, Caroline Rubin Rossato
• Publication Date: 2023
• Other Authors: SILVA, Doralúcia Gil da, PICCININI, Cesar Augusto, LOPES, Rita de Cássia Sobreira
• Format: Article
• Language: por
• Source: Estudos de Psicologia (Campinas)
• Download full: https://periodicos.puc-campinas.edu.br/estpsi/article/view/8307
• topic: Jealousy; Siblings; Family relations; Ciúme; Irmãos; Relações familiares

Sibling rivalry can be considered a normal experience among children. The present study investigated maternal impressions about sibling rivalry expressed by firstborns during their second pregnancy. The study included 24 pregnant women from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, who were in their last trimester of pregnancy and already had a child aged from two to six years. The qualitative content analysis, based on a semi-structured interview, revealed a vast number of reports regarding sibling rivalry, which was manifested through aggression directed at the unborn baby/ mother’s belly, fear of losing parents love/attention, and fear of invasion of personal space. At the same time that they identified themselves with the unborn babies, in order to deal with this rivalry, firstborns tried to belittle their unborn siblings. The expectant mothers made an effort to teach their first-born child to share and to prevent jealous feelings.