Dr Oz: Birth Order & Personality Traits
What is your birth order? Whether you are the first born, the middle child, or an only child it can reveal a lot about your personality, but new research shows it can also tell a lot about your health. Dr. Jen Hartstein sat down with Dr. Oz to discuss how your birth order can predict potential health issues.
Dr Oz: Youngest Children are “Mindful Manipulators”
Psychologist Dr. Jen Hartstein says our personalities can determine whether we are more prone to stress or anxiety, as well as other health issues, and birth order definitely plays a role in determining which ones we are more likely to struggle with throughout our lives.
The youngest child, or “mindful manipulator”, really understands how to work the system by sitting back and watching and learning as things play out in their family. The good thing is that the youngest child is often less likely to get sick or have allergies, but since they often picked on by older siblings growing up, they are at an increased risk for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome).
Dr. Hartstein says the gap in age between children also plays role in personalities. She adds that when there is a gap of more than 5 years, for example, it is like having two “only” children in the house.
Dr Oz: Health Risks for “Only” Children
Dr Jen Hartstein says that youngest children are often picked on in a family, which increases their risk for PTSD when they get older.
Are you an only child? If so, you might be able to relate with some of the most common personality traits of those without any siblings. They include being a perfectionist, hating criticism, and always trying to please your parents. Do any of those sound famililar?
The Only Child, or “Superfirst”, is like a first-born on hyper-drive because all the focus is on them to achieve above and beyond everyone’s expectations. The problem with being an only child is that it puts a child at greater risk for obesity because they often treat every emotion with food, from feeling good to feeling sad.
Dr Oz: Depression Risk in Middle Children
Who is often the diplomat in your family? Who is usually trying to keep the peace, but enjoys socializing? If you guessed the middle child then you would be correct! Dr. Hartstein says middle children are natural negotiators because they are always trying to figure out how to get what they want from either their older or younger sibling, or even their parents. She cautions, though, that because of this they are often at greater risk for Depression because they usually put their own needs last.
Dr Oz: First-Born Children at Greater Risk for Diabetes
Did you know that Dr. Oz is the oldest child in his family? He says he holds many of the traits of an oldest child, which include being an over-achiever, or overfunctioner, while always being driven and striving to get ahead in life. Dr. Jen Hartstein says that gender also plays a role in birth order, noting that when a daughter is the second-born child she often carries the traits of a first-born.
Since there is a lot of stress involved in being a first-born child who is always overachieving, they are at greater risk for High Blood Pressure and Diabetes.
Beverly Fritz says
I am the oldest of 6 yet have all the symptoms of the middle Child. I lost my younger Brother at 50, My sister who was younger 67 both to cancer and I have many medical problems. High BP , stents put in Bipolar disorder and am always trying to keep peace in my family. It is very stressful. What would u suggest. I have had 2 back surgeries that the 2end one did not help much.
I am 72. and take a lot of medication.