Middle Children Shine, Study Finds

 

Based on a new study suggesting that middle children tend to grow up "better" than their siblings.

Middle children might just have the edge in the sibling rivalry debate. A new study suggests these often-overlooked siblings grow up to be “better” in certain ways compared to their brothers and sisters, reigniting discussions on the role birth order plays in shaping personality.

The theory that birth order influences traits was first proposed over a century ago by Austrian psychologist Alfred Adler, sparking ongoing debate in the field. While no definitive conclusions have been reached, stereotypes have taken hold: firstborns are often seen as assertive and intelligent, the youngest as spoiled, and middle children as overlooked and "caught in the middle." In fact, “Middle-child syndrome” has even become a widely recognized concept, described by WebMD as the feeling of receiving less parental attention and being overshadowed by siblings.

But according to Canadian researchers Michael Ashton of Brock University and Kibeom Lee of the University of Calgary, this middle-child dynamic may foster positive traits. Their study, which used the HEXACO Personality Inventory to assess six personality traits—honesty-humility, emotionality, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience—found that middle children scored highest in honesty-humility and agreeableness.

This means middle children are more likely to forgive, cooperate, and control their temper. They’re also less inclined to manipulate others, uninterested in wealth and luxuries, and less likely to feel entitled to elevated social status.

The findings suggest middle children’s experiences of being “caught in the middle” may actually help them develop traits that make them more agreeable and humble. Notably, youngest siblings followed middle children in scoring, while eldest siblings and only children ranked lowest in these two categories.

So, while middle children may not always get the spotlight, their unique position in the family might just make them the most admirable of all.