Sibling Bullying: A Prospective Longitudinal Study of Associations with Positive and Negative Mental Health during Adolescence

Abstract

It is well documented that sibling bullying is associated with poor mental health. The prospective longitudinal relationships between sibling bullying and both positive and negative mental health remain unclear. Additionally, the developmental course of negative mental health after sibling bullying involvement is yet to be investigated. Regression models were fitted to data from a UK-based Millennium Cohort Study (n=17,157, 48% female). Adolescents self-reported on sibling bullying in early- (age 11 years) and mid-adolescence (14 years) and on positive (general well-being and self-esteem) and negative mental health (internalising problems, externalising problems, psychological distress, and self-harm) in late adolescence (17 years). Primary caregivers also reported on internalising and externalising problems throughout adolescence. Sibling bullying involvement as a victim-only or bully-victim in early adolescence was associated with more symptoms of negative mental health and lower levels of positive mental health in late adolescence compared to those not involved in any sibling bullying. Being a bully-only was associated with externalising problems but no other aspect of mental health in late adolescence. Persistent sibling bullying victimisation in early- and mid-adolescence was associated with more symptoms of negative mental health and reduced positive mental health in late adolescence. Finally, the developmental course of externalising, but not internalising, problems during adolescence differed depending on the sibling bullying role in early adolescence. These findings suggest that, if causality can be established, sibling bullying in early adolescence likely affects the developmental course of externalising problems and has a detrimental effect both positive and negative mental health in late adolescence.

Sibling bullying among Vietnamese children: the relation with peer bullying and subjective well-being

“…Several studies have highlighted the potentially harmful effects of sibling bullying, and noted that it should not be considered normal. However, in many families, sibling bullying happens frequently ( Tucker et al, 2013 ; Wolke & Skew, 2011 ; Toseeb & Wolke, 2021 ). Unlike bullying behaviors by adults or unfamiliar children, bullying among siblings is sometimes not seen as bullying; instead it is viewed as a fight, or a quarrel among siblings.…”

“…There has been a lot of evidence of a relation between sibling bullying and negative aspects of mental health ( Toseeb et al, 2018 , 2020b; Liu et al, 2020 , 2021; Lopes et al, 2019 ; Tucker et al, 2013 ). However, studies on the relationship between sibling bullying and the positive aspects of mental health are limited ( Toseeb & Wolke, 2021 ). This study provides further evidence of the link between sibling bullying and subjective well-being, a positive aspect of mental health.…”