As an only child, Lauren Steidtmann, sophomore, grew up around adults instead of kids.
“I always talked to adults, so I was always really mature for my age,” Steidtmann said.
Steidtmann said being an only child also made her more observant of the sibling dynamics in other families, especially concerning birth order.
Steidtmann said she noticed older children tend to be rule followers who like to take charge.
Like Steidtmann, students at MHS and across the world are influenced by the birth order in their family or lack thereof. Experts say that birth order is just one of the many factors that can shape a person’s personality.
Tristan Chambliss, junior, has six siblings and is one of the middle children in his family. Chambliss said that birth order impacts his siblings’ personalities.
“The oldest two are super responsible and protective, the youngest two are not and the middle kids are chill,” Chambliss said.
Chambliss said that many people think middle children go unnoticed, but he doesn’t agree.
“I wouldn’t say we’re ignored and forgotten, we’re just more low-key,” Chambliss said.
Dr. Janice Weddle, extension engagement specialist for the Mizzou Extension in South-Central Missouri, has also found other patterns.
“Some studies have been able to connect later-borns to rebellion, first-borns to agreeableness, and so on,” Dr. Weddle said.
Despite this, Dr. Weddle said it is extremely difficult to study the effects of birth order because of various factors that may influence a child’s personality, such as their family’s socioeconomic status or the age gap between siblings.
“There is not a direct link between birth order and effect on personality; however, there are many common themes and stereotypes that follow birth order,” Dr. Weddle said.
Caleb Stockman, freshman, is the oldest sibling in his family and said his birth order shaped his personality.
“I think it led me to be very independent and task-oriented,” Stockman said.
A child’s personality can be influenced by having parents with different amounts of experience, Stockman said.
“I think that both for the parenting style and having other people around is a big difference in your personality,” Stockman said.
Will Hughes, junior, agrees.
“I feel like with the oldest child it’s a lot more strict and guided and with the youngest it’s a little more loose,” Hughes said.
Hughes has an older brother and said he thinks some birth order stereotypes are true.
“I always hear that being the youngest makes you be more gregarious and more of an extrovert, and I feel like that’s definitely true when compared to my brother,” Hughes said. “I’m definitely a lot more open than my brother is.”
