Before confronting parents about favoritism issues, step back and assess the facts without the influence of raw emotions. Recollections of past favoritism influence perceptions of current favoritism, which means the preferential treatment among adult children may not be as dramatic as it feels, according to a 2009 study headed by Purdue University researchers and published in the Journal of Marriage and Family. Determine if you're facing genuine favoritism or perceived slights blown out of proportion by traumatic childhood memories. This process should also include self-evaluation to determine if your behavior and actions are contributing to the favoritism. For example, a parent may share more time, money and confidences with one sibling simply because that sibling has made an effort to stay connected with the parent.

Arrange a sit-down conversation with parents, ensuring that you have privacy, freedom from interruptions and enough time to fully address the issue. It's best to prepare yourself with concrete examples of favoritism. This discussion may lead to the discovery that your parents weren’t aware of their favoritism and result in changes in their behavior. On the other hand, parents may disagree with your assessment and make no adjustments. Go in with the goal of making your voice heard rather than trying to force a certain outcome.

Whether perceived or real, parental favoritism wreaks havoc on relationships between adult siblings. Counteract the effects of sibling rivalry by cultivating a close relationship with your siblings independent of your parents. Arrange to spend time together outside of family functions and reach out between in-person visits with phone calls and emails focused on your siblings' lives, rather than on your childhood or your parents. Close connections with siblings may counteract the negative effects of parental favoritism, as adult children offer each other the emotional support and approval not received from the parent. Even favored children benefit from positive sibling relationships, as they are often under pressure to become the caretaker of aging parents. As favorites, they are also in the best position to foster improved relationships between parents and nonfavored siblings.

The ideal answer to solving parental favoritism among adult siblings may be for parents to acknowledge and make reparations for the negative effects of their actions; however, this resolution may not be possible. When you’ve taken all the positive steps toward mending bonds with your parents and siblings, it is time to find emotional acceptance and approval elsewhere, such as with extended family, friends, your spouse and your own children. Relegate childhood resentments and rivalries to the past by focusing on the positive memories you share with your parents, and paying less attention to their relationships with siblings. While easier said than done, forgiving favoritism is possible when you remember that your parents are simply people with flaws and faults to be accepted if they cannot be corrected.