A Qualitative Exploration into the Unique Experiences and Psychological Wellbeing of Second-Middleborns

Miller, Shanice (2014) A Qualitative Exploration into the Unique Experiences and Psychological Wellbeing of Second-Middleborns. Manchester Metropolitan University. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Birth order has been shown to have an effect on and influence many aspects of our lives. This research focuses on the experiences and psychological wellbeing of a number of people who are second-middleborn, particularly with regards to their relationships with others, self-esteem and general life satisfaction. Collaborators were engaged via opportunity sampling and their views explored through ethnographic, photo-elicited interviews. A thematic analysis was carried out on the transcripts and as a result, three main themes developed; ‘being in the background’, independence and self-esteem. It was concluded that despite some similarities, experiences of being a second-middleborn vary between individuals, thus each experience should be valued in its uniqueness. Implications for further research have also been discussed.