独生子女的生活更加幸福

 A UK study has claimed that only-children are more contented¹ than those with siblings³ because they do not have to fight for their parents' attention。

澳大利亚《每日电讯报》14日报道称，英国一项研究发现，比起家有兄弟姐妹的孩子，独生子女的生活更加幸福，因为后者不必为争得父母的宠爱而明争暗斗。

Thirty-one percent of children said they were hit, kicked or pushed by a sibling² "quite a lot" or "a lot." Almost a third of teenagers said they were called "nasty names" and 18 percent said their belongings⁴ had been taken by a brother or sister. In all, 54 percent of siblings said they had been involved in some form of bullying⁶。

研究报告中，31%的孩子称受到兄弟姐妹拳打脚踢推推搡搡的次数“较多”甚至“非常多”。而几乎三分之一的青少年反应自己常被兄弟姐妹冠以“恶意绰号”，其中有18%的孩子报告称哥哥姐姐会夺己所爱。总体来说，54%的“为姐为哥”者承认自己曾“恃强凌弱”。

Figures from a study tracking the lives of 100,000 people in 40,000 British homes suggest only-children could be happier because they receive all the attention from their parents and do not have to fight for praise or assistance。

该研究跟踪调查了来自4万个英国家庭的10万人口，调查结果表明，独生子女可能更为幸福，因为他们能够从父母处获得更多的注意力，且不必为得到表扬、获得鼓励而明争暗斗。

The conclusion was supported by Hollywood actress Natalie Portman: "I would never have been an actress if I weren't an only child because my parents would never have let me be the star of the family at the expense of another child."

好莱坞女星娜塔莉-波特曼拥护该结论道：“如果我不是独生子女，我就永远不会成为一个女演员。因为父母不可能为了让我成为一个明星，而牺牲掉另外一个孩子的前途。”

University of Warwick professor Dieter Wolke said: "from anecdotal reports, quarreling siblings increase stress for parents, and some just give up intervening or intervene inconsistently, leaving the field wide open for the bully⁵ sibling."

英国华威大学教授迪特尔-沃克说道：“从一些有趣的报告中我们发现，兄弟姐妹吵成一团会让父母头痛不已，一些家长于是放弃‘调停’，或者减少‘调停’的次数，致使大欺小的现象屡屡发生。” 

1 contented   

adj.满意的，安心的，知足的

参考例句：

• He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
• The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。

2 sibling   

n.同胞手足(指兄、弟、姐或妹)

参考例句：

• Many of us hate living in the shadows of a more successful sibling.我们很多人都讨厌活在更为成功的手足的阴影下。
• Sibling ravalry has been common in this family.这个家里，兄弟姊妹之间的矛盾很平常。

3 siblings   

n.兄弟，姐妹( sibling的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A triplet sleeps amongst its two siblings. 一个三胞胎睡在其两个同胞之间。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She has no way of tracking the donor or her half-siblings down. 她没办法找到那个捐精者或她的兄弟姐妹。 来自时文部分

4 belongings   

n.私人物品，私人财物

参考例句：

• I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
• Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。

5 bully   

n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮

参考例句：

• A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
• The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。

6 bullying   

v.恐吓，威逼( bully的现在分词 )；豪；跋扈

参考例句：

• Many cases of bullying go unreported . 很多恐吓案件都没有人告发。
• All cases of bullying will be severely dealt with. 所有以大欺小的情况都将受到严肃处理。 来自《简明英汉词典》