Sisters spread happiness while brothers breed distress, experts believe。

    Researchers quizzed 571 people aged 17 to 25 about their lives and found those who grew up with sisters were more likely to be happy and balanced。

    The University of Ulster said having daughters made a family more open and willing to discuss feelings。

    They said the influence of girls was particularly important after distressing family events such as marital break-ups。

    The findings are due to be presented at the British Psychological Society in Brighton on Thursday。

    During the study, participants filled in psychological questionnaires which researchers used to assess a range of issues, including whether they had a positive outlook and any mental health problems。

    Lead researcher Professor Tony Cassidy said: "Sisters appear to encourage more open communication and cohesion in families. "

    "However, brothers seemed to have the alternative effect. "

    "Emotional expression is fundamental to good psychological health and having sisters promotes this in families."

    He said many of the participants had been brought up in families where parents had split and the impact of sisters was even more marked in these circumstances。

    "I think these findings could be used by people offering support to families and children during distressing times. "

    "We may have to think carefully about the way we deal with families with lots of boys."

    Geri Burnikell, co-ordinator of the charity Support Line, which offers counselling to young people and families, said: "This is very interesting and certainly chimes with our experiences."

    "Boys tend to internalise problems and in families where there are lots of sons, I can see that can cause problems。

    "I think the most important thing in these circumstances is to give people someone independent to talk to outside the immediate family unit."

    專家相信，姐妹為家庭播灑快樂，而兄弟讓家庭陷入憂愁。

    研究人員在對571名年齡在17至25歲的青年人進行調查后發現，那些在成長過程中有姐妹相伴的人長大后更快樂、心理也更平衡。

    阿爾斯特大學的研究人員說，家中有女兒有助于家庭成員之間敞開心扉、增進交流。

    女孩對家庭有著巨大的影響力，這種影響力在家庭遭遇諸如夫妻離異這樣的重大變故后，會尤為明顯地體現出來。

    該項研究成果將于周四在英國心理學會在布萊頓召開的會議上公布。

    在研究過程中，研究人員通過問卷調查的方式，對受訪者是否心態樂觀、是否患有精神抑郁疾病作了深入的了解。

    該項研究的負責人托尼•卡西迪教授說：“家里有姐妹更有助于家庭成員加強交流并增進凝聚力。”

    “相反，兄弟們似乎只能增加家人間的隔膜。”

    “情感的表達對于個人心理健康有著重大作用，家有姐妹能夠進一步強化這種家庭紐帶。”

    他說，很多參加調查的人都來自單親家庭，姐妹關系對這些人起到了非常顯著的積極影響。

    “我想，這項研究成果對于幫助家庭和孩子渡過情感危機，將起到一定的指導作用。”

    “我們也應該重視那些只有男孩兒的家庭的情感溝通方式。”

    向年輕人和家庭提供咨詢服務的慈善組織支持熱線的負責人蓋里• 波尼科爾表示，這項研究的成果非常有趣，它與我們在工作中的發現相吻合。

    “男孩子容易將事情個人化，我覺得家里要是男孩子多，自然容易出現溝通方面的問題。”

    “我想消除這種溝通障礙的最佳辦法，就是找一個局外人就事論事地解決矛盾。”