Oldest? Youngest? How Your Birth Order Affects Your Personality AND Health
Have you ever wondered how much your birth order affects your life? From relationships and your health to even your career and education, where you fall in the family can have substantial effects on your personality and how you interact with others. So whether you and your older sister are the most stylish siblings around or you rock your only child status like a badge of honor, see how your personality lines up with the research.
If you’re the oldest child like Kourtney Kardashian, you might be a little more Type A than the rest of your siblings. As the firstborn, your parents were likely more strict with you, shaping your high-achieving personality. A study at the University of Essex found that firstborns have a 16% higher probability of finishing multiple degrees, which usually lead to careers in medicine or law. And when it comes to getting hitched, you’re more likely to do it sooner, perhaps as a way of being the “dutiful firstborn.”
As far as health goes, you might have more allergies since parents usually shield their first child from EVERYTHING that might be a little bit dirty. But it’s this exposure to germs that might make children more resistant to allergies later on in life. Oh well, your parents were new at this whole “raising children” thing. (Photo via Jason Merritt/Getty)
Middle Child
If you’re a middle child like Pippa Middleton, you’re more sociable than most since you grew up in a full house. You had to learn how to compromise early on, so you’re great at team sports and activities. Because of this, you excel in careers that involve collaboration and interpersonal skills like sales or marketing. And because of your competitive nature, you did well in school, doing whatever it took to prove you were the best.
Luckily, you’re more likely to have a lower BMI than your older siblings, but unfortunately, you’re more prone to chronic fatigue syndrome. And when it comes to relationships, you’re the best kind of girlfriend. Since you don’t expect the spotlight or perfection, you’re laid back and easy to get along with. (Photo via Tim P. Whitby/Getty)
Youngest Child
If you’re the baby of the family like Solange (although, living in Bey’s shadow might warrant a category all its own), you tend to be the most popular in your social circles. All that extra attention you got growing up shaped you into a social butterfly. But school didn’t come so easily to you, and you worked the hardest to keep up. Many parents admit to not supervising the youngest’s homework as much as the other children, which might have contributed to the problem.
Being used to the spotlight, you might seek a more creative career to get all that attention you crave. This might be a result of your addictive personality, which also makes the babies of the family more prone to other, unhealthy addictions. You also seek relationships that are emotionally safe, and you try avoid confrontation. Since you grew up with others doing things for you, you tend to expect the same out of a relationship. (Photo via Jason Merritt/Getty)
Only Child
If you’re an only child like Chelsea Clinton, you’re an independent person. This should come as no surprise, since you were rarely interrupted as a child and you never had to try too hard to get attention. Possibly due to receiving the same amount of parental pressure as firstborns, only children tend to be high achievers. And since you’re so used to being at the top in your parents’ minds, you work hard to reach the top in your career as well.
Being an only child can also take a toll on your mental health, since you’re the go-to person when your parents fall ill or need help. The pressure of caring for your parents as they age can be a stressor that those with siblings don’t experience in the same way. And when it comes to relationships, only children don’t have any particular issues, unless their parents are divorced. A divorce can have a strong impact on how an only child views their own relationships. (Photo via Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty)
Twins
If you’re lucky enough to be a twin, like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, you have a unique bond that can be hard for others to understand. But this bond can make it difficult to find independence or your own personality. Education isn’t high on twins’ list of priorities, but they excel in going into business for themselves. Twins tend to be great entrepreneurs since they already have the perfect business partner.
No particular health issues stand out for twins, but relationships can be a little more difficult for the duo. Finding a connection with someone that rivals the one you have with your sibling might sound like quite a task, and the pressure this puts on a potential partner can sink a new relationship pretty quickly. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. (Photo via Taylor Hill/Getty)
Do these personality profiles ring true? Let us know in the comments below!
(h/t The Muse, Feature photo via Clive Brunskill/Getty)
