Sibling relationships in the physical domain potentially tie to the quality of youth physical activity experiences, yet research in this area is scant and lacks structure. The proximity and length of sibling relationships afford multiple opportunities for social comparison and related self-evaluations (Gamble et al., 2010; Harter, 1999). Importantly, these comparisons are affectively charged; characterized by warmth, conflict, and power differences (Furman & Buhrmester, 1985). The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the potential contributions that siblings make to sport experience of young athletes, specifically perceptions of sport competence. Study 1 consisted of a systematic review of siblings in physical activity contexts to gauge current knowledge on this topic and provide a guide for future empirical endeavors. Collectively, the studies demonstrate that siblings are associated with multiple outcomes in the physical domain including physical activity levels, sport socialization, sibling-based comparisons, and engagement in sex-typed activities. Overall, the findings provide an outline of sibling-based subject areas and identify topics needing further attention to advance the study of sibling relationships in the physical domain.Study 2 was a cross-sectional survey study that aimed to enrich our understanding of sibling interactions in sport, with emphasis on the association between sibling sport-referenced comparisons, relationship qualities, and perceived sport competence. Our primary hypothesis of a moderated relationship of sibling-based comparisons with perceived sport competence was generally not supported; however, a three-way interaction between birth position (younger or older sibling), tendency to compare, and sibling warmth significantly predicted perceptions of sport competence. Younger siblings with a greater tendency to make sibling comparisons and higher warmth perceptions were related to higher sport competence perceptions. This suggests that sibling-based comparisons and relational warmth may be salient for younger siblings, whereas older siblings utilize alternative sources of competence information.Lastly, Study 3 was a cross-sectional survey study that provided a focused examination of age, sibling-based sport comparisons, relationship quality, and perceptions of sport competence of younger siblings in late childhood and early adolescence. The findings further supported the importance of sibling warmth and sibling-based comparisons to competence beliefs. The findings also suggested that the relative contributions that sibling warmth and comparisons make to perceptions of competence were not age-bound. A supplemental examination of sibling relationship profiles revealed distinguishable groups of participants based on their pattern of scores on sibling warmth, sibling conflict, and comparison tendency. These profiles were associated with significantly different outcomes on perceived sport competence, sibling role modeling, and shared activities. In sum, this dissertation highlights the contributions that sibling relationships make to the physical activity experiences of youth and showcases the importance of continued investigation of siblings in the physical domain. This area represents a fruitful direction for researchers to pursue and further our understanding of social processes in physical activity contexts.
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