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"Sibling relationships may be close and intimate, distant and formal, or anything in between."

Dr. Therese Rando, grief expert

Adult Sibling Loss: Relationship Categories

Sibling loss comprises a spectrum of emotions that can fluctuate over time. Grief responses often correspond to the type of relationship that existed before death. Additionally, sibling relationships can change across the lifespan, resulting in overlapping feelings within the following categories when a loss occurs.

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Stewart, R., Kozak, A., Tingley, L., Goddard, E., Blake, E. & Cassel, W. (2001). Adult sibling relationships: Validation of a typology. Personal Relationships, 8, 299-324.

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