Sibling Rivalry in Dysfunctional Families and Its Toll on Maternal Mental Health

Background Sibling rivalry is usually considered a normal part of child development but in a family with limited financial resources, harsh or lackadaisical parenting, and extended families, persistent conflict may overwhelm maternal adaptive capacities. The long-term effect of rivalry among siblings on the mental health of mothers has little empirical data even though its impact on outcomes that focus on children have been well researched. This scoping review aims to map out the scope of evidence on the relationship between sibling rivalry and family-system stressors and maternal psychological outcomes, and articulate areas of unmet need to inform future research efforts. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed and PsycINFO databases to identify studies focusing on sibling rivalry and maternal mental health using keywords such as such as “sibling rivalry,” “maternal mental health,” “caregiving burden,” “family dysfunction,” and “emotional labor.” Following the Population-Concept-Context framework, studies were included if they met the inclusion criteria and were published between 2010 and 2024. Data was extracted using a standardized extraction form and synthesized across three themes based on the objectives of the study. Results Eleven studies were found to meet the inclusion criteria for this review. Across the reviewed studies, it was noted that indirect associations between unmanaged sibling conflict and maternal emotional fatigue, anxiety, and self-silencing were consistent. Sibling rivalry was worsened by large family size, poor parenting coherence, and limited paternal involvement, all of which intensified maternal caregiving burden. Conclusion A longitudinal, mixed-method, and culturally congruent study design is required in the future to conduct a direct evaluation of caregiver distress and sibling dynamics to facilitate maternal mental health protection in high-conflict households. Healthcare professionals and policymakers must consider incorporating sibling conflict screening into the maternal health care services. Additionally, they must promote family-centered interventions, which will help distribute the emotional labor across care givers.