Aggression between siblings: Associations with the home environment and peer bullying

Abstract

Sibling aggression is a common form of intra-familial aggression, yet has been largely neglected by research. Using an inclusive measure of sibling aggression, this study investigated, firstly, prevalence of sibling aggression and associations with family and household characteristics, and secondly, the relationship between sibling aggression and peer bullying. Participants were 4,237 adolescents from Wave 1 of Understanding Society. Four types of sibling aggression were measured: physical, verbal, stealing and teasing, and combined into composite measures of victimization and perpetration. Regression analysis identified associations with demographic characteristics, family and sibling composition, parent-child relationships and socioeconomic status and explored the link between sibling aggression and involvement in peer bullying. Using a broad definition, sibling aggression was found to be widespread, with 46% of all participants being victimized and 36% perpetrating aggression. Household and family characteristics, including a large family size, male siblings, and financial difficulties were associated with greater rates of sibling aggression. Parenting behavior showed the strongest relationship: harsh parenting increased the risk of sibling aggression while positive parenting protected against it. Sibling aggression was also homotypically related to involvement in peer bullying. Victimization by siblings significantly increased the odds of being a victim of peer bullying, and perpetrators of sibling aggression were more likely to be both peer bullies and bully-victims. Considering the adverse effects of sibling aggression on physical and mental health, the study provides pointers for efforts to reduce the risk of sibling aggression. Furthermore, the link with peer bullying suggests that school anti-bullying efforts should also take account of children's sibling relationships.3

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Trouble in the nest: Antecedents of sibling bullying victimization and perpetration.

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A longitudinal study of sibling bullying and mental health in autistic adolescents: The role of self‐esteem

“…While some researchers found no correlations between sibling bullying and low family income (Dirks et al, 2019; Toseeb, McChesney, Dantchev, & Wolke, 2020), a study reported negative correlations (Toseeb et al, 2018). In the present study, however, we first found significant correlations between sibling bullying and low family income which is consistent with previous reports (Eriksen & Jensen, 2009; Liu et al, 2021; Tippett & Wolke, 2015). This finding is also backed up by the resource control theory which suggests that coercive behavior, in this context of bullying, takes place to gain or maintain control over limited resources (Salmon & Hehman, 2014).…”