The experience and communication of envy among siblings, siblings-in-law, and spouses

For this study 109 spouse/sibling/sibling-in-law triads reported the degree of envy, communication of envy, and triggers of envy experienced in the triadic system. The relationship between envy and relational satisfaction and closeness was also assessed. Envy was largely experienced differentially in each relationship type. Siblings reported more occurrences of envy than did the siblings-in-law or spouses. Spouses were more likely than siblings or siblings-in-law to use communicative responses to envy. The sibling-in-law relationship shared similarities with both spousal and sibling relationships. Relational closeness and satisfaction for all relationships in the triad were correlated. Envy was not related to relational closeness and was inversely related to relational satisfaction for siblings and spouses only.