But there may be more of a science to eldest daughters than meets the eye.
When a mother needed help, biology caused her eldest daughter to step up and mature faster to provide that help.
Most striking of all, maternal distress was not found to speed up adrenal puberty in sons or younger daughters.
"I have a closer relationship with her, to this day, than I do with many of my other older siblings," he said.
His wife grew up as part of a similarly large brood — and her eldest sister had a similar experience.
Persons:
Lisa Doucet, Albert didn't, Doucet, Albert, I'm, " Doucet, babysitters, they'd, Molly Fox, Fox, Pamela Jakiela, aren't, isn't, Jonathan Westover, Mary Poppins —, Westover, We're, —, Lenette Azzi, Lessing, Jakiela
Organizations:
University of California, Fox, Center for Global Development, Williams College, University of Essex, Child, Utah Valley University, Boston University, Child Welfare League of America
Locations:
Rhode Island, Providence, TikTok, Los Angeles, Kenya, Utah