The surprising truth! about Parents' preferences between their children 👶🏼

A new study conducted by Brigham Young University investigated the details and secrets of parents' preferences between their children, as researchers analyzed a group of studies related to parents' favoritism towards children.

The researchers found that both mothers and fathers prefer their daughters, which contradicts the prevailing belief that fathers prefer boys and mothers prefer girls.

The study showed that girls may be easier to raise than boys, and that children who possess personality traits such as conscientiousness (i.e. a sense of responsibility and organization) are more preferred by parents.

Previous research has shown that being the favorite child in the family "is associated with better mental health, higher academic success, and more stable romantic relationships."

“The next time you’re wondering whether you prefer one sibling over another, remember that factors such as temperament or sense of responsibility may play a bigger role in preference than the child’s hierarchy,” said study leader Dr Alexander Jensen.

Parents may find conscientious children easier to deal with, which makes them more likely to interact with them, he added.

The study also explored the effect of factors such as the child’s age and the parent’s gender on parental preferences, and found that these had little effect. Conversely, conscientious and agreeable children were more likely to be preferred by their parents, as they tended to interact more in line with family patterns, which reduced conflict with siblings.

The study was published in the journal Psychological Bulletin.

Source: Daily Mail - https://ar.rt.com/z3m6 - Published on 18-01-2025