Birth order has no impact on the IQ levels and personality of children just as believed for decades, say the researchers from the University of Illinois.

The researchers studied around 377,000 high school children and arrived to a conclusion that the elder siblings had an IQ advantage of just a point over their younger siblings.

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Professor Brent Roberts, who led the study, added that the elder siblings were agreeable, extroverted and conscientious over a slight degree than their younger siblings, reported The Christian Science Monitor.

Roberts explained, "In terms of personality traits and how you rate them, a 0.02 correlation doesn't get you anything of note. You are not going to be able to see it with the naked eye." He also added that "You're not going to be able to sit two people down next to each other and see the differences between them." He continued that "It's not noticeable by anybody."

The psychologists compared each participant with every other child in the group instead of comparing siblings that came from the same family. Studies within the family might not prove good as the older children appear to be more responsible than the younger ones since they are naturally older and more responsible than the little ones, noted Robert, according to The Hamilton Spectator.

Parental socioeconomic status, size of the family, structure of the family, age and gender were controlled in the study for the purpose of accuracy. Robert elaborated that one of the approaches that is applicable for within the family study is to measure the older sibling and wait until the younger one reaches just the same age of his/her brother or sister.

Rodica Damian, postdoctoral researcher from the University of Illinois, noted: "Such studies often don't measure the personality of each child individually. They just ask one child - usually the oldest, 'Are you more conscientious than your siblings?'"

Rodica clarified,"The message of this study is that birth order probably should not influence your parenting, because it's not meaningfully related to your kid's personality or IQ," according to KBOI2.

TagsBirth Order, personality, Children IQ levels, Older Sibling, Younger Sibling