What is big sister syndrome and the symptoms to detect it

If it doesn’t happen to you, perhaps someone in your family or a loved one suffers from it. Regard “big sister syndrome”, a term that has become popular lately and has to do with some of the burdens that firstborns carry. But what exactly is it and what are they for symptoms to be alert.

An analysis carried out by University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)found that older daughters with one or more siblings tend to do so bear the burden of family obligations.

This is based precisely on the fact that they have to take care of their little siblings and also their parents.

In this case the “elder daughter syndrome” comes from the fact that they become second in command after their mother.

What is big sister syndrome

Beyond the fact that this is an analysis and a rule that is clearly not 100% satisfied, it is presented mainly among girls whose mothers experienced stress, depression or loneliness during pregnancy.

In the report they assure that the adversities encountered during the prenatal phase of life can direct the female fetus towards earlier maturity.

But is there a problem with this feature? Shouldn’t older children, who should be more mature, have more responsibility and take care of the younger ones?

These popular hypotheses, developed in The conversationthey are so ingrained that they can do it become an obstacle to seeing the problem.

But #Older Daughter Syndrome it became one trending on TikTokwhere teenage girls argue unfair amount of unpaid work (and sometimes unvalued) things they do to their families, as well as the negative effects on their lives, health and well-being.

Big sister syndrome research

The study has been carried out over fifteen years among 253 pairs of mothers and children from pregnancy to early adolescence.

As mentioned, expectant mothers’ levels of stress, depression and anxiety were measured during pregnancy.

They were then evaluated two to three months after giving birth measure your anguish.

And what followed was to analyze the biomarkers of puberty to determine maturation of children.

It was then that they discovered that there was a correlation between prenatal stress levels and signs of early puberty in girls, for what they called big sister syndrome.

Exceptional leader and future

The researchers’ theory is that this is because girls can do it this way Help your mother raise your siblings successfully.

It has also been said that older daughters tend to feel forced to take on the role of mother’s helpersespecially after experiencing adversity or childhood trauma, such as the death of a parent or separation.

But amidst the obligations and suffering, there is something “positive” (not that the other is totally negative) to mention: first-born daughters are inclined to lead and excel in everything they do. Although the evidence on this is still scarce.

What are the three theories about eldest daughter syndrome?

According to those who study the phenomenon, the eldest daughter syndrome is at least founded three theories of behaviorthat act simultaneously.

Role model theory

This role model theory suggests that older daughters tend to do this follow your mother as a model to learn how to “do” gender.

Sexual typing theory

In this case it emerges that parents usually assign girls and boys different tasks depending on their gender, and it is based on idea of ​​domestic work as something associated with femininity.

Labor substitution theory

The third point occurs when the Working mothers have little time available for household chores, and older daughters often act as “substitutes.”