siblings

Zion Kelly holds a photo of his late twin brother Zaire B. Kelly.

Health & Safety

A gunman stole his twin from him. This is what he's learned about grieving a sibling

2:59pm April 10, 2024

by Rhitu Chatterjee

About 60,000 children a year in the U.S. lose a sibling. Zion Kelly joined that unlucky group in 2017 when his twin, Zaire, was killed. Zion has learned a lot about grief, and himself, since then.

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In the womb, a brother's hormones can shape a sister's future

5:00am April 09, 2024

by Jon Hamilton

When siblings share a womb, sex hormones from a male fetus can cause lasting changes in a female littermate. This effect exists for all kinds of mammals — perhaps humans too.

Blended families are common. Here are tips to help stepsiblings get along

5:01am April 06, 2024

by Maria Godoy

Researchers have learned a lot about blended families since the 1970s — when The Brady Bunch painted a perfect picture of stepsiblings getting along. Some of their advice might surprise you.

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Early in life, Sam (left) and John were much more similar than they may seem today. "They both did not wave, they didn't respond to their name, they both had a lot of repetitive movements," says their mother, Kim Leaird.

These identical twins both grew up with autism, but took very different paths

1:35pm April 04, 2024

by Jon Hamilton

Sam and John Fetters are identical twins with autism. But Sam is in college, while John still struggles to form sentences. Their experience may shed light on the disorder's mix of nature and nurture.

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Sibling Coffee Roasters owner Libby Powell poses with her brother, Benjamin Withem, outside her West Virginia coffee shop. In her hand is an early photo of the pair — one they are trying to re-create.

At the heart of this cozy coffee shop lies a big sister's love for her little brother

8:16am April 02, 2024

by Yuki Noguchi

Having siblings can mean shared family and childhood experiences — and also shared bedrooms and rivalries. A growing body of research shows us that sibling relationships can shape us for life.

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A brother and sister enjoy an imaginative game in a domestic garden on a sunny day. Siblings can have a powerful effect on one another.

Have a story about your sibling? Share it with us!

5:01am February 09, 2024

Siblings can have a profound effect on us in childhood and over the course of our lives. How have these bonds affected you? Share your story with us.

We're tethered to our brothers and sisters as adults far longer than we are as children; our sibling relationships, in fact, are the longest-lasting family ties we have.

Health & Safety

Here's To Grown-Up Siblings And The Ties That Bind

5:00am November 28, 2019

by Robin Marantz Henig

Though she and her younger brother are very different, he's the one, in a way, she knows best. Sibling relationships, in fact, are the longest-lasting family ties we have, transcending time and loss.

The trick, of course, is to find moments of deep relaxation wherever you are, not just on vacation. Laughing with friends can be another way to start breaking the cycle of chronic stress, and help keep your heart healthy, too.

High Stress Drives Up Your Risk Of A Heart Attack. Here's How To Chill Out

9:28pm April 14, 2019

by Allison Aubrey

A study of siblings finds those who have a stress-related disorder have a 60 percent higher risk of heart attack or other cardiovascular event, compared to their less-stressed brothers and sisters.

Health & Safety

Adult Siblings Can Make Our Lives Healthier And Happier

6:00am November 23, 2017

by Robin Marantz Henig

Our sibling relationships are the longest-lasting family ties we have, and can help us weather the pains and challenges of adulthood, including illness and the death of parents.

Taylor Porco was just 14 years old when her brother, Jordan, died by suicide during his freshman year of college.

After A Suicide, Sibling Survivors Are Often Overlooked

12:48pm August 25, 2017

by Cheryl Platzman Weinstock

Recent studies show that people who survive a brother or sister's suicide are at great risk of mood disorders and mental health problems, including thoughts of harming themselves.