Only children are happier than those with brothers or sisters, according to a new research which shows _ rivalry   can have a serious effect on a child's emotion. Over half of the children surveyed said they had been bullied by a sibling, and one in three said they had been hit,kicked or pushed by a sibling, others complained of name-calling and having their belongings stolen. Other reasons for only children being much happier include not having to compete for parents' attention or share bedrooms with a sibling, said Gundi Knies, a researcher on the project. Dr. Ruth Koppard, a child psychologist, said, "In an average home, the more children, the less privacy for each child. Some love sharing a bedroom with a sibling but they would rather choose to do it than have to do it". Homes with just one child make up nearly half of all families in Britain. The study, to be published on Friday, questioned 2,500 young people. It also found that seven out of 10 teenagers are "very satisfied" with their lives. Only children are happier than those with brothers or sisters for the following reasons EXCEPT  _
they won't be bullied, hit, kicked or pushed by a sibling they needn't worry about name-calling and having their belongings stolen they needn't compete for parents' attention or share bedrooms with a sibling.[:Zxxk.Com] they can get what they want, and more love from their parents