Intragenerational proximity and the social role of sibling neighbors after midlife

Adult siblings who live near one another can be a source of social support but little is known about sibling proximity after childhood. Using the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH), we examine predictors of distance to nearest sibling as well as patterns of support and contact among sibling neighbors for respondents age 55 and over. Blacks are more likely than Whites to live in close proximity to siblings in adulthood. Despite the closer proximity among Black siblings, an analysis of sibling neighbors finds no racial difference in exchange of instrumental support. However, frequent contact with sibling neighbors is more common among Blacks than Whites. Results also indicate that older persons receive more support from nearby siblings when they do not have other core family members (spouses, children or parents) in their family network.