Officially proven: having a sister makes you a better person

I can concentrate for hours and she can't even for a minute. She is good at everything that has to do with games and I am the overly competitive loser who really tries her best, but loses and then gets childishly angry. I can sing a note; when she brings out her inner Adele, earplugs are not a luxury. She is sporty and I, eh, not really.

In short: Malou and I differ quite a bit from each other. She is yin and I am yang. In the past, we often got into each other's hair (always something with clothing issues),

but at the moment you get older, you suddenly realize how important family is. Do you also come from a family with only girls? Hang out the flag. Having a sister makes you, according to research, a better person.

What seems? Children get through their childhood more easily if they have a younger or older sister. ‘Sisters matter in a unique way. They give children something that parents cannot,’ says Laura Padilla-Walker from Brigham Young University. The professor conducted eight years of research on the influence of having a sister in family life.

Having an older sister makes your life more exciting and healthier. Even the bickering is healthy. ‘Thanks to her, you are better equipped to face challenges in life and a little less anxious.’ Your communication skills would also be better and you show your emotions earlier. She makes you smarter, as sisters teach you things in the same way as teachers do. ‘That’s because they involve you in a lot of activities, which helps you learn more about adult life.’

P.S.: Oh and for the men among us who grew up with a sister: the chances are high that you are better at communicating with women. Men who grew up with a sister also seem to be more empathetic and better listeners. Thanks, sis!