Research Shows Birth Order Really Does Matter : NPR. Research Shows Birth Order Really Does Matter Compared to older siblings, second-born boys are more likely to go to prison, get suspended in school and enter juvenile delinquency. Why? Parents of first-borns are more invested in their upbringing.

Does your birth order actually matter?

Many factors influence how your child turns out; don’t attribute large effects to a subtle factor such as birth order. But the debate over the impact of birth order gained new urgency this summer when the results of a new study were announced: Firstborns’ IQs tend to be higher than those of their younger siblings.

Does the order of birth affect personality?

Being the first, middle, youngest, or only child probably influences your behavior. … Psychologists like Leman believe the secret to sibling personality differences lies in birth order—whether you’re the oldest, middle, youngest, or only child—and how parents treat their child because of it.