Sibling Relationships and Social Competence in Middle Childhood: A Study in Anambra State

This study explores the relationship between sibling interaction quality and social competence among children in middle childhood in Anambra State, South East Nigeria. Sibling relationships represent a critical but often underexamined microsystem in which children practise negotiation, empathy, conflict resolution, and perspective-taking skills that transfer to broader social environments. This research adopted a descriptive survey design and recruited 360 children aged 6 to 11 years from primary schools in Awka, Onitsha, and Nnewi through stratified random sampling. The Sibling Relationship Questionnaire and the Social Competence Scale were administered with parent assistance for younger respondents. Results indicate a significant positive relationship between high-quality sibling interactions, characterised by warmth, companionship, and low rivalry, and children's social competence with peers and adults. Birth order effects were also observed, with firstborn children demonstrating higher prosocial skills while reporting more caretaking responsibilities. Children with mixed-gender sibling dyads exhibited broader social skill repertoires compared to same-gender sibling pairs. The study recommends that family counsellors working with Nigerian families emphasise the developmental significance of sibling relationships and advise parents on fostering positive sibling interaction patterns from an early age. Keywords: sibling relationships, social competence, middle childhood, Anambra State, prosocial skills.