If you are the youngest or middle child, this might not be easy to read.
A study has found that first-born children are likely to be smarter than their siblings.
The research by economists at the University of Edinburgh, Analysis Group and University of Sydney concluded that first-born children have higher IQ test score and better thinking skills than their younger sisters and brothers as early as age 1, according to The Guardian.
The results suggest that this could be down to the first-born child getting more mental stimulation. Even though parents were found to provide the same level of emotional support to their kids, first-born children received undivided attention with tasks that improved their thinking skills.
The research, which used data collected by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, analyzed almost 5,000 children from pre-birth to age 14. They also considered many other factors such as economic conditions and family background.
The first-born children scored higher on tests including picture vocabulary and reading, which according to experts, could reflect the ‘birth order effect.’
This means first-borns are more likely to have a better level of education and earn more wages in life.
Dr. Ana Nuevo-Chiquero from Edinburgh University’s school of economics said: “Our results suggest that broad shifts in parental behavior are a plausible explanation for the observed birth order differences in education and labour market outcomes.”
But there is also a downside to being the first-born. According to a 2009 study, first-borns are almost twice as likely to face pressure to succeed in life as their siblings.
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