How Your Birth Order Can Impact Your Health, Happiness, and Success

How Your Birth Order Can Impact Your Health, Happiness, and SuccessHow Your Birth Order Can Impact Your Health, Happiness, and SuccessThank (or blame) your parents for mora than your eye color or double-jointed elbows. Psychologists pretty much agree that our birth order has a huge influence on our personalities, according to the Child Development Institute.We consulted experts to find out how your birth order influences various areas of your life, including personality, education, health, relationships, and professional success. Whether youre the firstborn, a middle child, the youngest, an only child, or a twin, read on for how your place in the family affects you.FirstbornPersonalityFirstborns are likely to be more Type A, self-disciplined, and even have a higher IQ than younger siblings. The reason? Parents tend to be stricter with them than children who come later. Bonus if youre female Turns out all this trailblazing can make you stronger in the real world. Firstborn women end u p 13% more ambitious than even firstborn men.EducationOldest children must love school. Theres a 16% higher probability of them finishing multiple degrees compared to their siblings, researchers at the University of Essex found. The eldest tend to prefer classes that are based on mastery or self-referenced goals.CareerConsidering the tendency to pursue higher degrees, its no surprise that firstborns turn to careers that require higher education, from medicine to accounting. In fact, theyre used to climbing to the top in business as well More CEOs are firstborn than any other place in the birth order.HealthThe oldest child tends to be better shielded from germs early on- but thats not necessarily a good thing, suggests Japanese research. They also tend to have more allergies than younger siblings. The reason Scientists think those who are exposed to more germs and potential allergens from infancy may have a higher tolerance than their overly protected older siblings.RelationshipsFirs tborn children are more likely to find marriage earlier than their siblings. One possible reason? Theyre often considered by parents to be the most dutiful of their brood, so theyre seeking mom and dads approval once more by getting hitched early. Firstborns also tend to marry those closest in age to themselves. (After all, why marry someone a lot younger who reminds you of your kid sis?)Middle ChildPersonalityMiddle kids tend to be more content, more sociable, and better at team sports because of their in-between place in the family. Apparently, theyre so used to playing off the temperaments of and attention given to the oldest and youngest that they often have fewer acting out problems growing up.EducationMiddle children dont do so bad either when it comes to finding their place in the classroom. However, second-borns are better at coursework that emphasizes performance goals (think standardized tests), where competition can be fierce.CareerMiddle kids- accustomed to handling vari ous personalities at home- tend to prefer jobs that require better interpersonal skills or group collaboration. From social work to sales to professional sports, middle kids thrive in the mix.HealthWhen compared to the eldest, middle children tend to have a lower body mass index and are less susceptible to schriftart 2 diabetes. The downside? Second-borns are more prone to chronic fatigue syndrome, a complex and somewhat mysterious disease (scientists think it may come from a virus that the oldest and youngest are able to thwart).RelationshipsThey tend to be the happiest when it comes to relationships since they live outside the spotlight of older and younger siblings. According to Katrin Schumann, author of The Secret Power of Middle Children, middle kids claim to be happier in relationships because theres no pressure to be perfect (like the eldest) or an expectation of constant attention (like the youngest).Youngest ChildPersonalityWhen youre the baby in the family, all that extra attention from siblings and parents shapes your mind, too. The youngest tend to be the most popular among friends, the most agreeable, and also the most empathetic of the brood. The exception If theres a large age gap between them and their older sibling(s), they tend to be more like the oldest.EducationYoungest children may experience the toughest time in school. But they tend to work the hardest to stay ahead- because their parents admit to less supervision. (When parental monitoring of homework increases, so does the youngest kids grades.)CareerUsed to getting their way as well as receiving lots of attention at home, the babies gravitate toward artistic or creative jobs (think publishing, art, and acting).HealthYoungest children may have fewer allergies and a lower risk of developing diabetes, but theyre actually at the highest risk for health issues related to addictive substances, from drugs to cigarettes to booze. And they tend to have more addictive personalities that ultima tely puts their health at risk.RelationshipsThe youngest tend to seek relationships that are the most emotionally safe, thanks to the way they learned to approach confrontation, found Brigham Young University researchers. Since theyre used to others taking care of things for them, they treat adult relationships in a similar manner. In contrast to firstborns (who speak their minds freely to resolve issues), youngest children can be tentative about raising an issue.Only ChildrenPersonalityOnly children arent used to siblings interrupting them at dinner or jockeying for mom and pops attention. They tend to be more independent, less involved in group activities, and less likely to hang with relatives as an adult than those with siblings. (So they can catch up with pals instead?)EducationMany only children are high achievers with traits similar to those of firstborns.CareerAgain, like firstborns, only children (think Jack Welch and Alan Greenspan) tend to run the show in business because theyre concerned with maintaining their standort at the top at work and in their parents minds.HealthWhile an only childs physical health profile doesnt look different, a lack of siblings can take a toll on their mental health, according to Lauren Sandler, author of One and Only Why Having an Only Child, and Being One, Is Better Than You Think. Without the buffer of siblings, parents tend to lean on them for support more, especially when they start aging or get sick. The psychological stress of excessive emotional enmeshment with parents, said Sandler, is more likely with onlies than those with sibs.RelationshipsWhen it comes to relationships (as with career, sociability, and education), only children arent at a disadvantage. The real issues crop up if their parents union unravels. According to Sandler, without the protective shield of a sibling to weather the storm of parental upheaval, divorce often puts the singleton at risk of becoming some sort of pseudo-partner to a single pa rent.TwinsPersonalityTwins share a lifelong extreme closeness that offers pluses and minuses. The good The bond is deep and strong and they get unparalleled emotional support from one another. The bad They may deal with identity confusion and problems with independence. Carving out an individual identity may be a struggle that goes as far back as the womb.EducationTwins share a similar outcome wherein academic achievement just isnt as important to them as it is to others, according to a Taiwanese study.CareerTo understand where twins excel on the job, think Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss or Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen- careers where they can work together. The bond is powerful They dont feel the need to compete with each other and, in fact, prefer spending time together. Entrepreneurial endeavors are right up their alley.HealthBy the nature of twinness, no particular health issues stood out. However, their mothers well-being is another story. Mothers of twins appear to be healthier tha n those who have one baby at a time. The reason? Having twins doesnt necessarily make you live longer, but the sheer stamina and ability to withstand the double-duty pregnancy suggests your mom is of stronger stock.RelationshipsTwins who tend to maintain lifelong closeness are likely to seek out a partner that can match the emotional intensity they experienced with their sib. This twin yearning tends to put pressure on partners who can never match up to their beloveds brother or sister.More From DailyWorth6 Ways Our Birthdays Make Us BetterWhat to Do When He Resents Your SuccessA Day in the Life of 7 Highlgy Successful WomenPhoto of siblings courtesy of Patrick.