Half of Americans think parents have a favorite child

Nearly half of all parents with children under the age of 18 agree

Parents tend to say they don’t have a favorite child, but not everyone is buying it. According to new data from YouGov Plan & Track, about half (51%) of all US adults suspect that parents of multiple children do favor one above the rest. Only one-quarter (25%) think this isn’t the case.

Furthermore, nearly half (47%) of parents with at least one child under the age of 18 believe that parents in general have a favorite child, while one-third (33%) disagree with this notion.

Additional data shows that people who live in a household with 2-3 children are more likely to agree (46%) that parents have a favorite child than people who live in a household with 3-4 children (42%) or 4-5 children (39%). US adults who live in a home with 3-4 kids, meanwhile, are almost equally split on the question: 42% say parents tend to have a favorite child; 41% say they don’t. Those residing in a house with 4-5 kids are most likely to say parents do not (46%) have a favorite child.

Grandparents are also slightly more likely (51%) to believe that parents have a favorite child. Only 27% think they don’t, while 22% are unsure.

Learn more about YouGov Plan & Track.

Image: Getty