Siblings as a middle‑ground support network

Nationwide survey data show that about half of Americans with siblings (54%) say they are very or extremely close to at least one sibling — fewer than those close to spouses or parents but more than to grandparents or cousins. This positions siblings as a distinct, middling tier in family support hierarchies: not default caregivers like spouses/parents, but more common confidants than extended kin. — Understanding siblings as a distinct support tier matters for policy and services around caregiving, mental health, and social resilience because it refines who people actually turn to in crises and everyday support.