Older brothers and sisters push around their younger siblings. But parents can put an end to this sibling bullying by spending more quality time with their firstborn.

A University of Warwick study found that giving the eldest child more attention will prevent them from feeling threatened by and bullying siblings. In turn, his or her siblings won’t suffer the long-term consequences of sibling bullying.

The lasting consequences of bullying can include increased loneliness and greater susceptibility to certain mental illnesses.

Researchers say parents need to recognize the severity of these consequences and make bullying prevention a priority.

Source:

Dantchev, S., & Wolke, D. (2019, February 14). Trouble in the Nest: Antecedents of Sibling Bullying Victimization and Perpetration.Developmental Psychology. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/dev0000700