Attachment to Parents As a Moderator in the Association between Sibling Bullying and Depression or Suicidal Ideation among Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Bullying is one of the most widespread phenomenon in childhood and adolescence. Interestingly, most research on bullying focuses on bullying at school and not on bullying among siblings at home. Sibling bullying is the most frequent form of repeated aggression that children experience in their lifetime. Furthermore, previous studies indicate that sibling bullying is associated with depression and self-harm behavior. However, the association between sibling bullying and suicidal ideation was never previously examined. Attachment to parents is one variable that can moderate the association between sibling bullying and depression/suicide ideation. To our knowledge, there is no existing study that examines the association between sibling bullying and attachment patterns. In addition, no previous study has examined the moderating role of attachment on the association between sibling bullying and depression or suicidal ideation among adolescents. The current study includes 279 Israeli students aged 10–17 (M = 13.5; SD = 1.98; 164, 58.8% females) who completed self-report questionnaires regarding school and sibling bullying, attachment to mother and father, depression, and suicidal ideation. The results indicated an association between bullying among siblings and school bullying. In addition, children and adolescents who were consistently involved in sibling bullying were at greater risk for depression and suicide ideation when compared to children and adolescents who were not involved in sibling bullying. A secure attachment to one’s father (but not to one’s mother) moderated the association between sibling bullying and depression/suicide ideation. It should be noted that when suicide ideation was examined above and beyond depression, attachment to one’s father did not moderate the association between sibling bullying involvement and suicide ideation. This finding indicates that depression plays a central role in the association between sibling bullying and suicide ideation. These results suggest that sibling bullying is a risk factor for depressive symptoms and suicide ideation and that secure attachment to one’s father may serve as a protective role. Future bullying prevention programs should include sibling bullying and encourage the increased availability of paternal emotional support. Other theoretical and applied implications for prevention of both sibling bullying and suicide are discussed.

Effects of homophobic name‐calling and verbal sexual harassment on substance use among young adults

“…In addition, better peer relationship quality was associated with decreased odds that those in the high verbal victimization class would transition into the poly‐substance use or alcohol and cannabis only classes. This finding may reflect the buffering role of social support when experiencing stressful events (Davidson & Demaray, 2007), similar to studies of younger age groups showing, for example, that better parent–child relationship quality decreases the effects of bullying on health‐related outcomes (Bar‐Zomer & Brunstein Klomek, 2018). It may also be the case that for young adults with better peer relations, this derogatory language is coming from friends and thus perceived as more innocuous than if it were coming from nonfriends or strangers.…”

Bullying by siblings and peers: Poly‐setting victimization and the association with problem behaviours and depression

“…This is perhaps the most sobering result of this study and it clearly outlines the risk for further bullying experiences when there is previous exposure at home. It highlights the importance of parenting and the family unit in the prevention of bullying involvement (Bar-Zomer & Brunstein Klomek, 2018;Lereya et al, 2013). Furthermore, it suggests that the effectiveness of anti-bullying programmes at the school level may have limited effectiveness if not considered within the wider community context.…”

“…While there have been some international investigations of sibling bullying elsewhere (e.g., Tanrikulu & Campbell, 2015;Wolke & Samara, 2004), this is the first large-scale study to investigate this issue with adolescents in the Republic of Ireland. For the most part, current research has established a link between sibling bullying and mental health problems (particularly to depression; Bar-Zomer & Brunstein Klomek, 2018) and on the role of social support in preventing internalising problems (e.g., Coyle, Demaray, Malecki, Tennant & Klossing, 2017). As such, this study aims to build on previous international research on the implications of sibling bullying, while investigating this issue with an Irish population.…”

The Independent and Cumulative Effects of Sibling and Peer Bullying in Childhood on Depression, Anxiety, Suicidal Ideation, and Self-Harm in Adulthood

“…For instance, Coyle et al (6) found that sibling bullying victimization was associated with increased risk for anxiety and depressive symptoms, over and beyond the experience of peer bullying in a sample of 372 US students. Similarly, Bar-Zomer and Klomek (15) reported an association between involvement in any kind of sibling bullying (victimization and perpetration) and greater risk for depression and suicidal ideation, using a sample of 279 Israeli students. In order to consolidate these findings, future replications are needed using prospective studies in large samples.…”

“…In contrast, research on the adverse outcomes of sibling bullying is still in its infancy. There is an emerging body of research linking sibling bullying in childhood to a range of internalizing and mental health problems both concurrently and prospectively (6, 15–22).…”