Sibling Questionnaire (BSQ) Test

This 35-question assessment takes about 7 minutes to complete. The Sibling Questionnaire (BSQ) Test explores patterns of closeness, similarity, empathy, boundary respect, and control between siblings. Your profile can highlight strengths and tension points, supporting thoughtful self-reflection and a clearer understanding of how the relationship functions.

Questions: 357 minutes

Sibling Questionnaire (BSQ) Test: sample question card

October 2, 2025October 2, 2025Material has been updatedOctober 2, 2025Material has been published

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2,802 completions

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Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

CoercionC

Assesses the degree of power, control, and domination one sibling exerts over the other, including exploitation and isolation.

example score2/5

2/5Low coercionexample score

1 – 2.3Low coercion

2.4 – 3.6Moderate coercion

3.7 – 5High coercion

A score of 2 suggests low levels of dominance or controlling behavior in the sibling relationship.

SimilarityS

Measures how much siblings share interests, experiences, and emotional closeness versus being distinct from one another.

example score3/5

3/5Moderate similarityexample score

1 – 2.4Low similarity

2.5 – 3.4Moderate similarity

3.5 – 5High similarity

A score of 3 indicates moderate similarity, suggesting some shared interests and experiences alongside clear areas of individuality.

Boundary MaintenanceBM

Measures how consistently siblings respect each other’s physical and psychological boundaries, including personal space and possessions.

example score3/5

3/5Moderate boundary respectexample score

1 – 2.4Low boundary respect

2.5 – 3.7Moderate boundary respect

3.8 – 5High boundary respect

A score of 3 indicates a moderate level of boundary maintenance, with generally acceptable respect for space and privacy but some situations where boundaries may be crossed.

EmpathyE

Measures the degree of care, emotional attunement, and interest siblings show toward each other and their desire to spend time together.

example score3/5

3/5Moderate empathyexample score

1 – 2.4Low empathy

2.5 – 3.6Moderate empathy

3.7 – 5High empathy

A score of 3 indicates a moderate level of empathy, suggesting some caring and emotional interest is present but may be inconsistent across situations.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Parents of siblings

44%OF USERS

Parents use it to understand why their children get along or fight and what patterns may be harming family harmony.

Child psychologists and counselors

33%OF USERS

Clinicians and school counselors use it to screen sibling dynamics and guide family-focused interventions.

Researchers and students

23%OF USERS

Researchers and psychology students use it in studies to measure how sibling relationships relate to behavior and well-being.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Shaded area — where most people score

Dot — the average

You — your score lands on each curve after the test— your score, after the test

CoercionC

You?

Average4

Typical rangeTypical3.4 – 4.5

Possible1 – 5

SimilarityS

You?

Average2.9

Typical rangeTypical2.1 – 3.6

Possible1 – 5

Maintaining BoundariesMB

You?

Average3.7

Typical rangeTypical3 – 4.4

Possible1 – 5

EmpathyE

You?

Average3.8

Typical rangeTypical3.2 – 4.4

Possible1 – 5

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

- Not at all true
- Probably not true
- Probably true
- True
- Completely true
- Not at all true
- Probably not true
- Probably true
- True
- Completely true
- Not at all true
- Probably not true
- Probably true
- True
- Completely true

These are 3 of the 35 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

Sibling Questionnaire (BSQ) Test - Description and methodology of the test

family

siblings

Readers who want to understand a sibling bond beyond a simple sense of getting along can use the Sibling Questionnaire (BSQ) Test to examine recurring interaction patterns. It is suited to one person’s view of a relationship that may include warmth, rivalry, distance, influence, or boundary strain. A sibling relationship questionnaire organizes these impressions into a profile for focused reflection.

What This Assessment Explores

These items cover closeness, emotional responsiveness, shared interests, arguments, imitation, influence, fairness, and respect for space.

Coercion (1-5) reflects power and control, dominance, exploitation, and isolation; bands: Low coercion 1-2.3, Moderate coercion 2.4-3.6, High coercion 3.7-5.
Similarity (1-5) reflects shared interests, life experiences, and emotional experiences; bands: Low similarity 1-2.4, Moderate similarity 2.5-3.4, High similarity 3.5-5.
Boundary Maintenance (1-5) reflects respect for physical and psychological space; bands: Low boundary respect 1-2.4, Moderate boundary respect 2.5-3.7, High boundary respect 3.8-5.
Empathy (1-5) reflects care, interest, emotional closeness, and shared time; bands: Low empathy 1-2.4, Moderate empathy 2.5-3.6, High empathy 3.7-5.

As a sibling relationship test, the profile highlights connection alongside control, distance, or boundary strain for targeted reflection.

Methodology and Evidence Base

Each statement uses a five-point agreement scale, from not at all true to completely true, although middle labels vary. The prompts mix observable behavior with perception, so responses reflect the respondent’s current view. Scores are grouped by dimension and read through the displayed bands, producing a separate result for each area.

The questionnaire is an online version of Dunn and Plomin’s Sibling Questionnaire (BSQ), not an adaptation of Graham-Bermann and Cutler’s differently named Brother-Sister Questionnaire. Its displayed bands describe this version’s profile and should not be read as a scoring system from that separate instrument.

Dunn and Plomin’s work on sibling differences indicates that siblings may experience family life differently, so this result represents one person’s account of the relationship rather than a shared account.

The profile can serve as a sibling dynamics assessment, focusing reflection on specific interactions and possible change points. Self-report is sensitive to current mood, memory, self-awareness, and willingness to disclose; results describe one perspective at one time and do not establish a diagnosis.

Author: Judy Dunn, Robert Plomin

Literature:

Graham-Bermann, S. A., & Cutler, S. E. (1994). The Brother-Sister Questionnaire: Psychometric Assessment and Discrimination of Well-Functioning From Dysfunctional Relationships. Journal of Family Psychology, 8(2), 224-238. 10.1037/0893-3200.8.2.224
Graham-Bermann, S. A., Cutler, S. E., Litzenberger, B. W., & Schwartz, W. E. (1994). Perceived Conflict and Violence in Childhood Sibling Relationships and Later Emotional Adjustment. Journal of Family Psychology, 8(1), 85-97. 10.1037/0893-3200.8.1.85
Dunn, J., & Plomin, R. (1991). Why Are Siblings So Different? The Significance of Differences in Sibling Experiences Within the Family. Family Process, 30(3), 271-283. 10.1111/j.1545-5300.1991.00271.x

Updated: 2025-10-02