Science

9 surprising facts about only children

Rebecca Harrington

2016-04-17T12:33:00Z

becca n parentals — Look how proud they are! I am their favorite child. Rebecca Harrington/Tech Insider

As a doted-upon only child, I would beam with satisfaction every time my dad told people why he and my mom didn't have any more kids.

"We got it right the first time," he would say.

Of course, this fact would backfire if I ever did something dumb. Then my mom would facetiously say, "She's my smart one."

It's a common stereotype that only children are vain and selfish. But are these qualities supported by scientific research? Let's find out!

Here are 9 surprising facts that scientists have discovered about only children. A lot of the studies on this topic have been contradictory, but here are some of the findings that have held true repeatedly.

Early psychological research, which informed popular stereotypes, concluded that only children were at a disadvantage. But scientists have debunked this misguided assumption over time.

daniel radcliffe — Daniel Radcliffe is an only child. Fred Thornhill/Reuters

Source: Child Development Research, Journal of Individual Psychology

The idea that only children are selfish and spoiled has also been consistently disproven over the years.

Robert De Niro is an only child. Al Bello/Getty Images

Source: Journal of Individual Psychology

Only children tend to have better relationships with their parents than people who have siblings.

betty white — Betty White's an only child. Toby Canham/Getty Images

Source: Journal of Individual Psychology

One study found only children tend to spend more time on their homework and get better grades than kids who have two or more siblings.

Leonardo Da Vinci was an only child. Wikimedia Commons

Source: Child Development Research

Onlies often get higher intelligence scores as children than kids with siblings, though this gap can shrink as they get older.

Natalie Portman is an only child. Stefanie Loos / Reuters

Source: Journal of Individual Psychology

Only children have been found to be goal-oriented and ready to invest human capital in a problem.

nancy ronald reagan frank sinantra — Nancy Reagan and Frank Sinatra were both only children. Ronald Reagan was not. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

Source: Psychological Bulletin

In one study, only children reported talking to themselves more than people with siblings did. The researchers concluded this was likely because they spend more time alone.

Russell Brand is an only child. Mary Turner/Getty Images

Source: Journal of Research in Personality

One study found only children tended to be both more aggressive and more victimized in elementary school, suggesting they might not be as adept at managing conflict.

Lea Michele is an only child. Michael Buckner/Getty

Source: Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

But most only children report liking it that way, and enjoy entertaining themselves. So there.

alicia keys — Alicia Keys is an only child. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Source: Journal of Individual Psychology

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