ABSTRACT

This meta-analysis examined the association of birth order and divergent thinking (DT). The main purpose was to examine how ordinal position (only, first, middle, or last-born) is related to creativity. The results from 27 studies (k= 222; N = 4,690) were analyzed using a multilevel approach. Because some previous studies compared first- vs. later-born children whereas others compared different ordinal positions, three datasets were analyzed: (a) first-born vs. later-born children, (b) only children vs. children with siblings, and (c) middle-born vs. later-born children. Results showed that first-borns had higher DT scores than later-born children (g = −0.165, 95% CI [−0.012, −0.318], p = .046). Moderator analysis showed a significant interaction between gender and task modality with later-born males scoring lower on figural (but not verbal) DT than first-born males. No significant difference was found between only children and first-born children with siblings. In addition, the results showed a non-significant difference between middle- and later-born children; however, moderator analysis indicated that gender and age significantly explained some of the variability in the mean effect. Limitations and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

摘要

这项荟萃分析检查了出生顺序和发散思维 (DT) 之间的关联。主要目的是检查顺序位置（仅、第一个、中间或最后一个）与创造力的关系。使用多层次方法分析了27 项研究（k = 222；N = 4,690）的结果。因为之前的一些研究比较了第一个孩子和晚生的孩子，而其他人比较了不同的顺序位置，所以分析了三个数据集：（a）第一个孩子和晚生的孩子，（b）独生子女 vs. 有兄弟姐妹的孩子，以及(c) 中产儿与晚产儿。结果显示，第一胎的 DT 得分高于后胎 ( g = -0.165, 95% CI [-0.012, -0.318], p= .046）。调节器分析显示性别和任务模式之间存在显着的相互作用，晚出生的男性在形象（但不是语言）DT 上的得分低于第一胎的男性。独生子女和有兄弟姐妹的第一个孩子之间没有发现显着差异。此外，结果显示中产儿和晚产儿之间没有显着差异；然而，调节分析表明，性别和年龄显着解释了平均效应的一些可变性。讨论了这些发现的局限性和实际意义。