Eldest siblings tend to think they’re the kings and queens of the family. They were born first, so it only makes sense that they get the most attention and affection, right?
家里的老大們傾向于認為他們是家里的國王和王后。他們先出生，所以他們理所應當得到最多的關注和愛，對嗎？

Youngest and middle children would beg to differ, but it turns out science mostly supports the eldest’s bragging rights.
弟弟妹妹們并不同意，但其實大多數科學研究支持長子長女的這種“特權”。

Numerous studies have shown that birth order plays an important part in development. How much influence it has is a point of contention among experts, but regardless, there is something to be said about being the oldest one of the bunch.
許多研究都已經顯示，出生順序在孩子的成長中起到重要作用，影響到底有多大一直是專家爭論的焦點，但是不論如何，關于家里的老大，還是有些得說道說道。

If you’re an eldest sibling, take a look at the benefits of your birth order below.
如果你是家里的老大，看看下面列出的當老大的好處。

1. Older siblings might be smarter.
1.老大更聰明。

Research suggests that eldest children have higher IQs on average than their younger siblings. In a 2007 study of 250,000 Norwegian young adults, firstborn men had an average IQ 2.3 points higher than their younger brothers.
研究表明，長子比其弟弟妹妹平均智商更高。2007年一項針對25萬挪威年輕人的研究顯示，長子的智商比弟弟平均高出2.3分。

Researchers believe the difference is due to environment rather than genetics. Eldest children often “teach” their younger siblings, which can help them to better retain information, according to the authors. Also, as a family grows, parents have less time to spend with each child.
研究者相信，這是出于環境原因而不是遺傳原因。根據作者所述，長子長女經常教授他們的弟弟妹妹，這幫助他們更好地記住信息。并且，由于家庭成員增加，父母花在每個孩子身上的時間在變少。

“Every time you add a child, you’re diluting the intellectual environment of everyone in the family,” the researchers wrote in the study’s conclusion.
“每添加一個孩子，就要稀釋每個孩子的知識環境，”研究者在總結中寫到。

2. They could be more responsible.
2. 他們更有責任感。

Forging the path for their fellow siblings means eldest children learn some serious responsibility early in life. According to Jeffrey Kluger, author of The Sibling Effect: What the Bonds Among Brothers and Sisters Reveal About Us, eldest siblings tend to be the ones that focus the most on family loyalty and traditional achievement. As a result, they’re often seen as more obedient and responsible.
為自己的兄弟姐妹鋪路，這意味著長子長女要較早地學著承擔一些嚴肅的責任。《手足效應：兄弟姐妹間的關系告訴了我們什么》的作者杰弗里?克魯杰表示，長子長女傾向于成為更加關注家庭忠誠和傳統成就的人。因此，他們看上去更加順從，有責任感。

3. They might be more successful.
3. 他們也許會更成功。

Not only do eldest children perform better in school, they also might be more successful in the professional world. According psychologist and New York University adjunct professor Ben Dattner, firstborns are achievement-oriented and eager to please their parents. Research also suggests they tend to dominate their younger siblings as an authority figure of sorts, making them acutely prepared to take on leadership roles in the professional world.
長子長女不僅會在學校表現得很好，他們也會在職場更加成功。根據紐約大學兼職教授、心理學家本?達特所述，長子長女以成就為導向，渴望取悅他們的父母。研究還表明，他們傾向于擺出權威姿態，“領導”自己的弟弟妹妹，這使他們在職場發揮領導作用時已經做出充分準備。

Plus, their parents perceive them to be more accomplished. Go figure.
此外，他們的父母認為他們應該更有本事，想想看吧。

4. Eldest children follow the rules.
4. 長子遵循規則。

While middle children are thought to be the rebellious ones, oldest children are more likely to be rule-followers and stick to the status quo.
年齡居中的孩子被認為叛逆，而長子長女更可能遵守規則，并堅持現狀。

“Firstborns tend to be responsible, competitive and conventional, whereas laterborns have to ‘distinguish’ themselves and create a specific niche by being playful, cooperative, and especially, rebellious,” Belgian psychologists Vassilis Saroglou and Laure Fiasse wrote in a 2003 paper published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.
“長子長女更有責任心，有競爭力，也比較傳統，而弟弟妹妹更愛玩鬧，更講合作，也更叛逆，與長子長女有所區別，凸顯特色”，比利時心理學家瓦西利斯和洛爾在2003年發表于期刊《個性與個體差異》的論文中寫到。

5. They may be more conscientious.
5.他們或許更加認真。

In a 2015 study, firstborns were found to be slightly more conscientious, more agreeable and less neurotic than their younger siblings — characteristics that could help them in the long run.
在2015年的一項研究中，人們發現長子長女比他們的弟弟妹妹略加認真，更加和藹可親，且更不容易精神敏感–這樣的品質能夠長期幫助他們。

A 2015 Australian study found that people who were more conscientious showed higher academic performance. Conscientiousness has also been found to be a major key to success.
2015年澳大利亞的一項研究發現，更認真的人成績更好，嚴謹自律的精神也被發現是成功的關鍵。

Revel in the glory, eldest siblings. It’s hard to argue with science. But we’re sure your mom still loves you all equally.
陶醉在榮光中，長子長女們。科學爭辯太復雜。但是，我們相信你們的媽媽對你們的愛都是平等的。

Vocabulary

beg to differ: 恕不同意

adjunct professor: 兼職教授，副教授

go figure: 猜猜看，想想看吧

英文來源：赫芬頓郵報

譯者：Rachel1222（中國日報網愛新聞iNews譯者）

審校&編輯：yaning