Gender-Based Associations Between College Students' Disclosure to Siblings and Disclosure to Best Friends or Romantic Partners

Abstract: Emerging adulthood is a time filled with instability, but disclosure within close egalitarian relationships such as siblings, friends, and romantic partners can help when coping with stress. The present study examines patterns of disclosure across these relationships, as well as specific associations between relationships with siblings and peers. College students ( N = 232, M age = 18.5 years, 62.9% female) reported their frequency of disclosure to their closest-aged sibling, same-gender best friend, and, when applicable, different-gender romantic partner ( N = 85). Results show that patterns of disclosure within relationships differ based on the type of issue that is being disclosed, and peers are chosen most often to be recipients of disclosure. The associations between sibling and peer disclosure are impacted by the sibling gender composition and show a compensatory relationship for individuals from mixed-gender dyads. Taken together, the findings of the present study highlight the unique role each of these relationships plays in emerging adulthood.