Quality Sibling Relationships: Perspective‐Taking in Siblings From Divorced Families

ABSTRACT Quality sibling relationships can help children manage the complexities of parental separation/divorce. Further perspective taking is a social competence developed through sibling interactions. However, little is known of the processes through which young people's experience divorce impacts on sibling relationship quality, nor how perspective taking between siblings plays out in divorced families. This paper explores this shortfall, focussing specifically on the role of perspective‐taking for siblings who have experienced parental divorce. The study involved semi‐structured interviews with 36 young people aged 16–24 in Norway who had experienced parental separation at various ages. Thematic analysis revealed that siblings agreed or disagreed on various perspectives, with agreement fostering harmony and disagreement causing tension. Key to resolving these tensions was the ability to rationalize the sibling's viewpoint. The paper presents a model suggesting that shared perspectives among siblings maintain cognitive consonance and generate positive emotions, promoting close relationships. Conversely, unresolved disagreements lead to cognitive dissonance, negative emotions, and ongoing conflict. However, cognitive dissonance can be resolved through explicit reflection, a skill that social workers and other supportive adults can help siblings develop. The paper then provides recommendations for social workers and other adults on promoting quality sibling relationships.