Parenting styles and siblings group in large families

The diploma thesis focuses on parenting styles and the sibling group of large families. The theoretical part describes the theoretical base of parenting styles, variables that can influence parenting styles and the specifics of large families. The qualitative approach in the empirical part was used. The study sample consists of nine Czech families with four or five children aged 1.5 to 18 years. Parents are mostly highly educated practicing Catholics. Data were gathered using qualitative and quantitative methods. The outcome of this research is a description of the specifics of family education in large families, possible causes for education differences among children in a family and the characteristics of a sibling group. Family size impacts communication among parents and children in the family, as well as the number of shared activities and the way the household is organized. Causes of differences in education among siblings can be found in the different personality characteristics, age, sibling constellation and the extent of parental experience. The significance of the sibling group is reflected in a compensation for lack of parental attention, an encouragement of younger siblings' development and a cultivation of social skills