Middle children are more reliable and better friends, says research

Stuck in the middle?

Well, don't worry because it turns out that the myth that middle born children are somehow the forgotten siblings is not true. In fact, you might actually be the best one. Studies suggest that because middle children rely less on attention than first-born or last-born siblings, middle-borns are more reliable and make better friends because of it. Because of their position in the family, the middle child spends more time with their siblings than their parents and are usually the ones that their siblings turn to in times of need. Middle-borns were found to put a lot of value in their relationships and were more likely to have a close tight-knit group of friends. The middle child is also much less likely to cheat on a significant other than an eldest or youngest born. When Business Insider spoke to Catherine Salmon, co-author of the book "The Secret Power of Middle Children," she said;

"As they get older [middleborns] recognise that they were given more space, and it makes them more independent and more capable. They tend to be very successful with their friendships, and very successful with their marriages."

She also said that middle children seem to be more open-minded and much more likely to try new things than their older or younger siblings. Any of my friends who are middle children seem to have the same chill, salt of the earth quality, so there may be some truth in this research after all.