Social and Emotional Development Includes Variations in Social Emotional Learning and Temperament Among Children With and Without Siblings

Sibling relation is a combination of warmth and rivalry. It plays major role in individual development. The base for social emotional development and child's temperament is implanted in early years between caregivers and siblings. It provides foundation how children view themselves, each other and perceive world around them (Bagdi & Vacca, 2005). The present study was undertaken to assess the levels of social emotional learning and temperament among children with and without siblings, aged 12-14 years living in Ludhiana city. The total sample comprised of 220 school going children (110 single children & 110 children with siblings). Social emotional competence questionnaire by Zhou and Ee and Thorndike dimension of temperament test by Thorndike was applied. Results revealed that significantly more number of children with siblings were found at higher level in the dimension of self- awareness, self-management and overall social emotional competence whereas significantly more number of single children was found at medium level. With regard to temperament, children with siblings were found to be more sociable, irritable, tender-minded and responsible whereas single children were found to be more impulsive and active.