Impact of Being a Middle Child On Relationships and Intimacy

Psychology

The present study attempts to offer a brief explorative account of experiences of middle children in urban Indian families, specifically focusing on their understanding of romantic relationships and intimacy. Keeping the usual assumption of ‘middle children experiencing neglect at home’, the paper attempted to look at other themes and factors that are unique to the experience of middle children in ways they engage with ideas of romance and intimacy. Through a thematic analysis of interviews done with five individuals, it was seen that one’s relationship with parents and siblings determined how individuals saw their own worth or made sense of intimacy. Furthermore, the desire to be prioritized and feeling understood were crucial elements in middle children’s expectations in their romantic relationships. However, due to a small sample size, the study does not make any generalized assumptions but offers opportunities to explore more ideas in relation to middle children's experiences.

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