Shared family identity as a moderator of emerging adult sibling relationship maintenance and relational quality

ABSTRACT This study examined the influence of shared family identity on the association between emerging adult sibling use of the positivity, openness, assurances, networks, and tasks relationship maintenance behaviors and perceived relational quality. Participants were 132 undergraduate students enrolled in a variety of undergraduate communication courses at a large Mid-Atlantic university. Using ordinary least squares (OLS) multiple regression analyses, it was found that shared family identity moderated the association between emerging adult sibling use of the openness relationship maintenance behavior and perceived relational quality but failed to moderate the association between emerging adult sibling use of the positivity, assurances, networks, and tasks behaviors and perceived relational quality. Future researchers should examine the influence of parental treatment on children as a way to further explore the relationship between sibling use of relationship maintenance behaviors and relational outcomes.