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When asked about siblings and only children respond that they have none, the usually reaction is: "you must have been so spoiled," or " you are so lucky." Many only children tend not to respond to these remarks, since they are often made by someone who wishes they were an only. Sure, being an only child does have its benefits, but there are a lot of drawbacks too.
As an only child growing up, you don't have to share your toys or your parents attention, but you also have no one to share the blame with. Studies have shown that educationally, being an only child, has no benefits, since with siblings there are other children to help with homework and both younger or older can learn from each other. Emotionally, it has been shown that only children tend to mature faster. This is not for every family since each individual is different and unique, but general studies have concluded no real benefit or hindrance in being or having an only child.
As an adult only child, being the only one does make a difference. As an only child, when your parents get older you don't have sibling support. Growing up, being lonely didn't last with friends and your parents around, but as an adult, out on your own, it can be very lonely. Sure you will make more friends, but friends move away, lose contact while family is there with you always.
There is also a sibling connection that cant be imitated with friends or other family. This bond is so special that it can surpass the greatest of challenges and horrific ordeals.
You can read all sides to the situation. Only children may have wanted to have siblings. Children of big families would have loved being an only child. Then you have some happy with who they are and what family they had. The issue is as diverse as the people.
Studies also differ in their evaluation of happiness, since that is such a personal factor. Even the studies of physical and mental growth may harbor inaccuracies, based on the people studied. An advantaged only child may have hated being an only and be lacking in intellectual ability by choice or genetics, where as a child with many siblings may have loved the big family and excelled in academics and career.
When it comes to growing up an only child, it can be tough. You have no older sibling to protect you from bullies, and no younger one to pick on. You have all your parents attention, which could be both good and bad, and you can be very spoiled, which in later years turns out to be a hard thing to be broken of. When your parents age, it is even harder with no one immediately there to know exactly what you are going through and no one to help you see it through with the remaining parent when one passes away. It can be lonely and disheartening. The numbers of those that love the big family or being an only are usually matched with those that don't. Basically it is all relative to who you are, how you were raised and the uniqueness that makes you, you.
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