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Older Siblings Feeling Paternal

The phenomenon of older siblings feeling paternal towards their younger siblings, including its causes, effects, and variations across different family structures and cultural contexts.

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Jan 17, 2026
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Is it common for older siblings to feel paternal?

Yes — feeling "paternal" or parent‑like toward younger siblings is a common pattern documented across developmental and family‑systems research, but it is far from universal: many older siblings act a...