Firstborn, middle, or youngest? Birth order affects children’s health

While youngest siblings are often indulged for being “the baby” or the “protected” one, they “might receive less one-on-one medical attention simply because parents are stretched thinner or less anxious than they were with their first child,” says Giolitti-Wright. When it comes to mental health, Curtis says younger siblings can be prone to struggles with self-esteem and self-efficacy.

“Essentially, the pervasive dynamic of ‘coming last’ to older siblings leads to a reduced sense of one’s own abilities,” she says. “When you consistently can’t influence outcomes due to the developmental disadvantage of being last in the birth order, you adapt by ‘going with the flow.’”

May 9, 2025 | 6:44 am