"Siblings have a unique relationship. They share a secret language- a private code that unlocks common experiences. They are family, tied together by kinship throughout life."
Dr. Kenneth J. Doka, grief expert
Adult Sibling Loss: Significance
At least 80% of Americans grow up with one or more siblings. Moreover, siblings will spend between 80-100% of their lives together, longer than any other relationship across the lifespan. The sibling bond is often the closest relationship in one’s life because siblings are a person’s first friend, confidant, and source of emotional support. The loss of a sibling signifies a rupture that permanently impacts one’s life. It is a reminder that life is fragile and forces bereaved siblings to adapt to a new existence without someone who played an essential role in their formative development.
Sibling relationships evolve through young and middle adulthood. The relationship is affected by social circumstances including, careers, marriages, and children. The bond continues to mature as siblings navigate these changes and define new roles for each other. These current identities involve new expectations for how the relationship will exist. If sibling loss occurs amid recent life transitions, such as parenthood or marriage, bereaved siblings may grieve what their relationships could have been while acknowledging the absence that loss has to the families they left behind.
