“I Know You, But I Don’t Know Who You Are”: Siblings’ Discursive Struggles Surrounding Experiences of Transition

Abstract

When young adults leave home and seek independence from their family-of-origin, their sibling relationships undergo various changes. The present study used relational dialectics theory to understand how siblings make meaning of their changing relationships during the transition to adulthood. Interviews were conducted with 19 individuals who had left home and moved away from a sibling within the last 4 years. An analysis of siblings’ talk about their experiences of relationship transition revealed discursive struggles between old and new relational meanings and between certainty and uncertainty. Participants also reported that moving away from their sibling helped them develop a stronger, more meaningful bond. Findings suggest that siblings face both challenges and opportunities for growth during the transition to adulthood.