A novel study confirms what many suspect: parents often do favour one child over others. The research, a meta-analysis of nearly 19,500 people across 30 studies conducted between 2015 and 2022 in the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe, suggests that parental preference is influenced by birth order, gender, and personality traits.
Whereas younger children often receive more favourable treatment, the study revealed a shift when considering parental control. Parents tended to be less controlling of their eldest children, suggesting a preference for greater autonomy in their older offspring. This finding complicates the long-held assumption of consistent favouritism towards the youngest child.
Gender also plays a role, with parents reporting a slight inclination to favour daughters over sons. However, personality characteristics proved to be a significant factor. Parents consistently showed a preference for children described as “agreeable” and “conscientious,” regardless of their birth order or gender, according to the study published in January 2025.
The phenomenon of parental favouritism is not a new observation. A recent article in The Telegraph noted the prevalence of this dynamic within families, acknowledging the potentially long-lasting consequences for children who perceive themselves as less favoured. Similarly, personal accounts published in Yahoo Style and HuffPost corroborate the emotional impact of perceived parental bias, with individuals reporting feelings of being haunted by the belief that they were not their mother’s favourite.
The complexities of identifying favouritism stem from the subjective perspectives of both parents and children, as highlighted in a HuffPost piece detailing a mother’s experience with sibling accusations. The author observed that both children regularly accused her of favouring the other, a pattern she attributed to the inherent biases in individual perceptions and the challenges of maintaining impartiality when praising positive behaviours.
Researchers acknowledge that the reasons behind parental preference are multifaceted. As one author of the CBC report stated, “Some children may be easier to parent than others.” This suggests that a child’s temperament and behaviour can influence a parent’s response, potentially leading to differential treatment. The study does not delve into the specific reasons why certain personality traits are favoured, but it confirms the existence of a pattern.
The study’s findings are likely to resonate with many individuals who have experienced sibling rivalry and the perception of unequal parental attention. The research offers a data-backed confirmation of a common familial dynamic, but leaves unanswered questions about the long-term effects of such favouritism and the best strategies for parents to mitigate its potential harm.
