A systematic review of siblings and physical activity experiences

Siblings are important developmental agents, yet understanding of their influence in physical activity settings is limited. Prior to developing sibling-focused research questions, a comprehensive summary of the diverse literature regarding siblings in the physical domain is needed. A systematic review of siblings in physical activity contexts was conducted to gauge current knowledge on this topic and provide a guide for future empirical endeavors. A comprehensive literature search of CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, PsychINFO, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science yielded 68 studies spanning 46 years (1970–2016). The results showed siblings to be actively and passively associated with physical activity levels and to be sources of both positive and negative experiences in sport. The sex composition of sibling dyads appears to moderate outcomes. Overall, the findings provide an outline of sibling-based subject areas, identify topics needing further attention, and showcase methods with potential to advance the study of sibling relationships in the physical domain.