We’ve got great news for those of you who are the eldest sibling- apparently, you’re the most intelligent.
In a study conducted by the University of Edinburgh, researchers stated that the oldest brother or sister is the smartest due to the fact that they get more encouragement from their parents.
The children who took part in the study had to take part in reading and vocabulary tests every two years.
Of the 5,000 children who participated in the study, the older children came out with higher IQ scores than the younger participants.
The researchers have stated that the reason for the higher IQ scores may be down to something known as the ‘birth order effect’.
They explained that the birth order effect means that the older children tend to be more educated, have better jobs and a higher income than their younger siblings.
Dr Ana Nuevo-Chiquero stated, “Our results suggest that broad shifts in parental behaviour are a plausible explanation for the observed birth order differences in education and labour market outcomes.”
But fear not younger siblings, all is not lost. A study that was carried out earlier this year found that the youngest sibling is more likely to be a parent’s favourite.
The researchers stated that it’s all about perception. The younger child is more worried about being liked because they feel like they must live up to their older sibling’s reputations.
Researchers from Brigham Young University’s School of Family Life stated that the youngest child will always try harder to be the favourite because they feel like they need to.
Developing a deep bond with their parents is more important to them because their older siblings have been around longer to strengthen their relationship with their mum and dad.
The study suggested, “These findings may suggest a hierarchy within families: parents may serve as referents for firstborns and firstborns as referents for second-borns.”
So whether you’re the big brother or the youngest sister- you both win!
