Exploring psychological wellbeing in only children.

Whyatt, Bethany (2017) Exploring psychological wellbeing in only children. Manchester Metropolitan University. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

This study qualitatively explored the experiences of only children and their psychological wellbeing, with particular focus on sociability, relationships and achievement. Six participants were recruited using purposive sampling from either Manchester Metropolitan University’s Psychology Research Participation Pool or the researcher’s pre-existing contacts. Each participant was interviewed using semi-structured interviews to gather data surrounding their unique experiences as an only child in relation to their psychological wellbeing. The data was analysed using thematic analysis and four over-arching themes emerged: no sibling closeness, positive parent-child relationship, high parental expectations and preference for small groups of people. All four themes provided an insight into how psychological wellbeing is affected by being an only child. The most prominent finding was that the parent-child relationship seems to be of most significance to an only child’s psychological wellbeing