Is Middle Child Syndrome Real?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhere Did the Concept Come From?Does Middle Child Syndrome Exist?Symptoms and Characteristics of Middle Child SyndromeHow It Shows Up in AdultsHow to Prevent Your Child From Developing Middle Child Syndrome

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Where Did the Concept Come From?

Does Middle Child Syndrome Exist?

Symptoms and Characteristics of Middle Child Syndrome

How It Shows Up in Adults

How to Prevent Your Child From Developing Middle Child Syndrome

Close

Where Did the Concept of Middle Child Syndrome Come From?

The middle child syndrome originally came from the physician and psychotherapist, Alfred Adler—who developed the birth order theory.

The Birth Order TheoryThe Birth Order Theory suggests that the position in which a child is born can affect their personality and life outcomes. For instance, middle-born children tend to have a certain set of characteristics that differ from the first and lastborn.

The Birth Order Theory

The Birth Order Theory suggests that the position in which a child is born can affect their personality and life outcomes. For instance, middle-born children tend to have a certain set of characteristics that differ from the first and lastborn.

The Birth Order Theory Has Been Criticized Since Its Inception

Adler’s theory was developed over a century ago and his research has been highly criticized since. Multiple methodological problems have been identified.

For instance, many of the studies that support his theory do not look at age and race. The self-developed questions used in the studies were often too brief, using five or fewer items.

Lastly, factors such as sibling gender, age spacing, socioeconomic status, and number of siblings in the family were not taken into consideration and controlled for. All these variables can affect the results and conclusions of the studies.

This theory has been stereotyped through various media sources. Some of the popular middle-born television characters include:Lisa Simpson fromThe SimpsonsStephanie Tanner fromFullHouseJan Brady fromThe Brady BunchMalcolm Wilkerson fromMalcolm in the MiddleArya Stark fromGame of Thrones

This theory has been stereotyped through various media sources. Some of the popular middle-born television characters include:

Is There Any Research That Supports the Idea of Middle Child Syndrome?

Researchers are still trying to figure out how birth order affects various outcomes including personality and health conditions.

The American Psychological Association refers to the “Middle Child Syndrome” as a hypothetical condition because there isn’t substantial evidence that suggests birth order consistently and strongly influences personality, characteristics, or intelligence.

However, there are some studies that looked at the effects of being born in the middle.

Middle Children Might Have More Distant Relationships With Loved Ones

Middle children may have more distant relationships with their parents and family. Three studies were published in 1998 to examine the effects of birth order on self-identity and family relationships.

Three studies showed that middleborns were less likely to feel closest to their mothers compared to first and lastborns.

The results of the first study showed middleborns as less likely than first and lastborns to refer to kinship when asked about their closest confidants. The second study showed that middleborns were more likely to turn to their siblings than their parents in times of distress compared to first and lastborns. The last study analyzed Internet questionnaire results and historical archives. It showed that middleborns were less likely than first and lastborns to be interested in genealogical research.

All three studies showed that middleborns were less likely to feel closest to their mothers compared to first and lastborns.

Middle Children Are Least Likely to Discuss Sex With Their Parents

Talking about sex with parents isn’t something most children feel comfortable with. However, middle children may be the least likely to do so compared to their siblings.

A study analyzed the results of the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles. It showed that middleborn men were less likely to feel at ease talking to their parents about sex and receiving sex education from their mothers.

Middle Children May Be More Prone to Getting into Trouble

A study analyzed the data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) to examine the effects of birth order on delinquency. It showed that compared to firstborns, middle and lastborn children were more likely to have problem behaviors.

Although these studies found significant associations between middle children and personality characteristics, it is still unclear whether a person’s position in their family impacts lifelong outcomes.

A study analyzed large datasets of three national panels from the US, Great Britain, and Germany. It did not show any significant effects between birth order on personality including agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, extraversion, or imagination.

Symptoms and Characteristics of Middle Child Syndrome

According to Birth Order Theory, middle children are in a position that maximizes competitiveness with their siblings. They are neither theoldestnor theyoungestso they may be more likely to feel stressed with feelings of insignificance.

As a result, middleborn children may feeljealousand neglected that their parents give more attention to their siblings. This can lead to rebelliousness and trouble-seeking behaviors. They may act out as a way to get approval from their parents and their peers. They may intentionally put themselves in situations that cause problems with authority and issues in their social group.

Their position in the family can also cause them to become peacekeepers. They want everyone to get along, mediating interpersonal conflict and inserting themselves into family problems that do not involve them. They do not like to take sides in the family and will compromise their needs to attain harmony.

Symptoms and Traits of Middle Child SyndromeSome of the characteristics you may find in someone who is a middle child include:JealousyFeeling insignificantActing as the mediator or peacekeeperCompetitivenessRebelliousnessAngerStressFeelingneglected

Symptoms and Traits of Middle Child Syndrome

Some of the characteristics you may find in someone who is a middle child include:JealousyFeeling insignificantActing as the mediator or peacekeeperCompetitivenessRebelliousnessAngerStressFeelingneglected

Some of the characteristics you may find in someone who is a middle child include:

How Middle Child Syndrome Shows Up in Adulthood

Being a middle child may make you feel more negative about yourself. A study looked at the relationship between identity perception and psychological birth order among university students. It showed negative identity perceptions in middle and only children.

Rejection Sensitivity

One study explains that middleborn children may not receive the same amount of attention from their parents which causes them to feel like they are not loved, treated unequally, and not taken seriously.

This creates feelings of neglect which cause an increased sensitivity to rejection with beliefs that they are not good enough. They may feel like life is a constant competition with their siblings who are more talented and successful than them.

This leads to increased frustration,worthlessness, self-defeating thoughts andpessimism, and decreasedself-confidence. The accumulation of these childhood and adolescent experiences is detrimental to their process of identity development which then manifests as a negative identity perception during adulthood.

Understanding Rejection Sensitivity and How It Can Affect You

How to Prevent Your Child From Developing Middle Child Syndrome

If you have a middle child, it doesn’t mean they will grow up into adults with middle child syndrome characteristics. There are plenty of ways to help your child lead a healthy, happy, and confident life.

Therapy can help a middle child understand how their past experiences affect who they are today. Therapists can advise on how to resolve conflict, express memories and feelings related to upbringing, gain self-confidence, accept who they are, and respect their journey.

Navigating the Challenges of Eldest Daughter Syndrome

7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.APA Dictionary of Psychology: Middle child syndrome.Watkins CE.Birth-order research and Adler’s theory: A critical review.Individual Psychology: Journal of Adlerian Theory, Research & Practice. 1992;48(3):357–368.Birth order and familial sentiment: middleborns are different.Evolution and Human Behavior. 1998;19(5):299–312.Elton L, Palmer M, Macdowall W.Birth order and parental and sibling involvement in sex education. A nationally-representative analysis.Sex Educ. 2018;19(2):162–179.Cundiff PR.Ordered delinquency: the “effects” of birth order on delinquency.Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2013;39(8):1017–1029.Rohrer JM, Egloff B, Schmukle SC.Examining the effects of birth order on personality.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015;112(46):14224–1422Çabuker ND, Batık HESBÇMV.Does psychological birth order predict identity perceptions of individuals in emerging adulthood?International Online Journal of Educational Sciences. 2020;12(5):164–176.

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.APA Dictionary of Psychology: Middle child syndrome.Watkins CE.Birth-order research and Adler’s theory: A critical review.Individual Psychology: Journal of Adlerian Theory, Research & Practice. 1992;48(3):357–368.Birth order and familial sentiment: middleborns are different.Evolution and Human Behavior. 1998;19(5):299–312.Elton L, Palmer M, Macdowall W.Birth order and parental and sibling involvement in sex education. A nationally-representative analysis.Sex Educ. 2018;19(2):162–179.Cundiff PR.Ordered delinquency: the “effects” of birth order on delinquency.Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2013;39(8):1017–1029.Rohrer JM, Egloff B, Schmukle SC.Examining the effects of birth order on personality.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015;112(46):14224–1422Çabuker ND, Batık HESBÇMV.Does psychological birth order predict identity perceptions of individuals in emerging adulthood?International Online Journal of Educational Sciences. 2020;12(5):164–176.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Psychological Association.APA Dictionary of Psychology: Middle child syndrome.Watkins CE.Birth-order research and Adler’s theory: A critical review.Individual Psychology: Journal of Adlerian Theory, Research & Practice. 1992;48(3):357–368.Birth order and familial sentiment: middleborns are different.Evolution and Human Behavior. 1998;19(5):299–312.Elton L, Palmer M, Macdowall W.Birth order and parental and sibling involvement in sex education. A nationally-representative analysis.Sex Educ. 2018;19(2):162–179.Cundiff PR.Ordered delinquency: the “effects” of birth order on delinquency.Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2013;39(8):1017–1029.Rohrer JM, Egloff B, Schmukle SC.Examining the effects of birth order on personality.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015;112(46):14224–1422Çabuker ND, Batık HESBÇMV.Does psychological birth order predict identity perceptions of individuals in emerging adulthood?International Online Journal of Educational Sciences. 2020;12(5):164–176.

American Psychological Association.APA Dictionary of Psychology: Middle child syndrome.

Watkins CE.Birth-order research and Adler’s theory: A critical review.Individual Psychology: Journal of Adlerian Theory, Research & Practice. 1992;48(3):357–368.

Birth order and familial sentiment: middleborns are different.Evolution and Human Behavior. 1998;19(5):299–312.

Elton L, Palmer M, Macdowall W.Birth order and parental and sibling involvement in sex education. A nationally-representative analysis.Sex Educ. 2018;19(2):162–179.

Cundiff PR.Ordered delinquency: the “effects” of birth order on delinquency.Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2013;39(8):1017–1029.

Rohrer JM, Egloff B, Schmukle SC.Examining the effects of birth order on personality.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015;112(46):14224–1422

Çabuker ND, Batık HESBÇMV.Does psychological birth order predict identity perceptions of individuals in emerging adulthood?International Online Journal of Educational Sciences. 2020;12(5):164–176.

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