During the study, participants filled in psychological questionnaires which researchers used to assess a range of issues, including whether they had a positive outlook and any mental health problems.
在研究過程中，研究人員通過問卷調(diào)查的方式，對受訪者是否心態(tài)樂觀、是否患有精神抑郁疾病作了深入的了解。

Lead researcher Professor Tony Cassidy said: "Sisters appear to encourage more open communication and cohesion in families. "
該項研究的負(fù)責(zé)人托尼·卡西迪教授說：“家里有姐妹更有助于家庭成員加強交流并增進(jìn)凝聚力?！?/P>

"However, brothers seemed to have the alternative effect. "
“相反，兄弟們似乎只能增加家人間的隔膜。”

"Emotional expression is fundamental to good psychological health and having sisters promotes this in families."
“情感的表達(dá)對于個人心理健康有著重大作用，家有姐妹能夠進(jìn)一步強化這種家庭紐帶?！?/P>

He said many of the participants had been brought up in families where parents had split and the impact of sisters was even more marked in these circumstances.
他說，很多參加調(diào)查的人都來自單親家庭，姐妹關(guān)系對這些人起到了非常顯著的積極影響。