INFLUENCES ON THE QUALITY AND DYNAMICS OF TWIN RELATIONSHIPS: FOCUSING ON NONTWIN SIBLING INFLUENCES

摘要

Relationships weigh in powerfully, both positively and negatively, on the well being of adults. We explore a potential contributor to better and worse relationships in the case of twins, potentially the longest relationship of all. Specifically, we ask how other relationships impact on the dynamics and quality of the twinship, with a focus on nontwin sibling influences. Exploring effects of family and friends in a broader study, we elicited narrative descriptions, thereby generating multiple case studies of twins, aged 33 to 76. Using thematic qualitative analyses, results indicated that (1) the relationship most influential varied widely across twinships, (2) dominant effects of the nontwin sibling on dynamics were potential triangulating and boundary intrusion, both of which the twin respondent recognized and actively fought to avoid (usually successfully), and (3) on twinship quality were primarily the enhancement of closeness and bonding, often resulting from negative nontwin experiences. Implications are discussed.