Sibling Abuse: Hidden Physical, Emotional, and Sexual Trauma Vernon R. Wiehe. New York: Free Press, 1990. 224 pp. $29.95 hardback
About: This article is published in Social Work.The article was published on 1993-05-01. It has received 68 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Sibling.
Citations
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TL;DR: There was no basis in this study for presumingpeer and sibling victimizations to be more benign when they involve younger children, and the findings provide justification for being concerned about such peer and sibling violence in schools and families.
Abstract: Objective: It is widely presumed that when children are hit by peers or siblings, it is not as serious as similar acts between adults or older youth, which would be termed, “assaults” and “violent crimes”. The goal of this study was to compare the violent peer and sibling episodes of younger children to those of older youth in terms of their seriousness and association with symptoms that might indicate traumatic effects. Method: The study collected reports of past year’s violent victimizations and childhood symptoms in a national probability telephone sample of 2030 children and youth ages 2–17. The experiences of 10–17-year olds were obtained via self-reports and those of the 2–9-year olds from caregivers. Results: The younger children’s peer and sibling victimizations were not less serious than the older youth on the dimensions of injury, being hit with an object that could cause injury or being victimized on multiple occasions. Younger children and older youth also had similar trauma symptom levels associated with both peer and sibling victimization. Conclusion: There was no basis in this study for presuming peer and sibling victimizations to be more benign when they involve younger children. The findings provide justification for being concerned about such peer and sibling violence in schools and families and for counting such victimizations in victimization inventories and clinical assessments.
148 citations
TL;DR: Youth in stepfamilies had the highest overall rates of victimization and the greatest risk from family perpetrators, including biological parents, siblings, and stepparents.
Abstract: In a national probability sample of 1,000 children aged 1017, youth from single parent and stepfamilies experienced higher rates of several different kinds of victimization compared with youth living with two biological parents. Youth in stepfamilies had the highest overall rates of victimization and the greatest risk from family perpetrators, including biological parents, siblings, and stepparents. Elevated risk in stepfamilies was fully explained by their higher levels of family problems. Victimization risk in single parent families was more affected by their lower socioeconomic status and residence in more violence neighborhoods and schools.
148 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the association between abuse by siblings and subsequent experiences of dating violence, comparing this to the relationship between parental abuse and dating violence and found that dating violence was associated with abuse by older and younger brothers and sisters.
Abstract: The present study examined the association between abuse by siblings and subsequent experiences of dating violence, comparing this to the relationship between parental abuse and dating violence. For males, dating violence was associated with abuse by older and younger brothers and sisters. For females, dating violence was associated with abuse byolder siblings but not by younger siblings. Dating violence among males was more strongly associated with sibling abuse than with parental abuse. In contrast, for females, dating violence was more strongly associated with abuse by parents. Examination of the type of violence revealed that emotional and physical aggression received from parents and siblings were associated with expressed emotional dating violence among males and with expressed physical dating violence among females. The findings support the hypothesis that abuse by siblings, like abuse by parents, may contribute to a cycle of violence in the lives of persons victimized by sibling abuse.
115 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the recall of physical aggression and sexual behavior among siblings and found that participants were more likely to believe that the behaviors were abusive in retrospect than when they actually occurred.
Abstract: Retrospective recall of physical aggression and sexual behavior among siblings was investigated. Participants described behaviors between themselves and siblings in the family, their estimation of the appropriateness of the behavior, and their current relationship with their siblings. Additionally, participants completed measures of family structure and stress. Results indicated that rates of physical aggression among siblings was high, with varying severity. Rates of sexual behavior were lower. For both physical and sexual behaviors, participants were more likely to believe that the behaviors were abusive in retrospect than when they actually occurred. No differences were found in family structure among abusive and nonabusive siblings, but siblings who reported physical or sexual behaviors also reported higher levels of intrafamilial stress. Certain types of stressors may predict particular sibling relationships.
112 citations
TL;DR: An exploratory study was conducted with a convenience sample of 41 adult survivors of sibling incest using a retrospective survey design, and half of the participants showed evidence of distorted beliefs about child sexual abuse.
Abstract: An exploratory study was conducted with a convenience sample of 41 adult survivors of sibling incest using a retrospective survey design. Participants were interviewed about their childhood sexual experiences with a sibling. Most participants reported vaginal or oral intercourse and coercive experiences. Half of the sample reported sexual experiences with family members, as well as other child abuse. Half of the participants showed evidence of distorted beliefs about child sexual abuse. Disclosure of the incest during childhood was rare.
103 citations
References
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TL;DR: This study examined a large spectrum of violence, crime, and victimization experiences in a nationally representative sample of children and youth ages 2 to 17 years.
Abstract: This study examined a large spectrum of violence, crime, and victimization experiences in a nationally representative sample of children and youth ages 2 to 17 years. More than one half (530 per 1,000) of the children and youth had experienced a physical assault in the study year, more than 1 in 4 (273 per 1,000) a property offense, more than 1 in 8 (136 per 1,000) a form of child maltreatment, 1 in 12 (82 per 1,000) a sexual victimization, and more than 1 in 3 (357 per 1,000) had been a witness to violence or experienced another form of indirect victimization. Only a minority (29%) had no direct or indirect victimization. The mean number of victimizations for a child or youth with any victimization was 3.0, and a child or youth with one victimization had a 69% chance of experiencing another during a single year.
1,265 citations
TL;DR: There was no basis in this study for presumingpeer and sibling victimizations to be more benign when they involve younger children, and the findings provide justification for being concerned about such peer and sibling violence in schools and families.
Abstract: Objective: It is widely presumed that when children are hit by peers or siblings, it is not as serious as similar acts between adults or older youth, which would be termed, “assaults” and “violent crimes”. The goal of this study was to compare the violent peer and sibling episodes of younger children to those of older youth in terms of their seriousness and association with symptoms that might indicate traumatic effects. Method: The study collected reports of past year’s violent victimizations and childhood symptoms in a national probability telephone sample of 2030 children and youth ages 2–17. The experiences of 10–17-year olds were obtained via self-reports and those of the 2–9-year olds from caregivers. Results: The younger children’s peer and sibling victimizations were not less serious than the older youth on the dimensions of injury, being hit with an object that could cause injury or being victimized on multiple occasions. Younger children and older youth also had similar trauma symptom levels associated with both peer and sibling victimization. Conclusion: There was no basis in this study for presuming peer and sibling victimizations to be more benign when they involve younger children. The findings provide justification for being concerned about such peer and sibling violence in schools and families and for counting such victimizations in victimization inventories and clinical assessments.
148 citations
TL;DR: Youth in stepfamilies had the highest overall rates of victimization and the greatest risk from family perpetrators, including biological parents, siblings, and stepparents.
Abstract: In a national probability sample of 1,000 children aged 1017, youth from single parent and stepfamilies experienced higher rates of several different kinds of victimization compared with youth living with two biological parents. Youth in stepfamilies had the highest overall rates of victimization and the greatest risk from family perpetrators, including biological parents, siblings, and stepparents. Elevated risk in stepfamilies was fully explained by their higher levels of family problems. Victimization risk in single parent families was more affected by their lower socioeconomic status and residence in more violence neighborhoods and schools.
148 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the association between abuse by siblings and subsequent experiences of dating violence, comparing this to the relationship between parental abuse and dating violence and found that dating violence was associated with abuse by older and younger brothers and sisters.
Abstract: The present study examined the association between abuse by siblings and subsequent experiences of dating violence, comparing this to the relationship between parental abuse and dating violence. For males, dating violence was associated with abuse by older and younger brothers and sisters. For females, dating violence was associated with abuse byolder siblings but not by younger siblings. Dating violence among males was more strongly associated with sibling abuse than with parental abuse. In contrast, for females, dating violence was more strongly associated with abuse by parents. Examination of the type of violence revealed that emotional and physical aggression received from parents and siblings were associated with expressed emotional dating violence among males and with expressed physical dating violence among females. The findings support the hypothesis that abuse by siblings, like abuse by parents, may contribute to a cycle of violence in the lives of persons victimized by sibling abuse.
115 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the recall of physical aggression and sexual behavior among siblings and found that participants were more likely to believe that the behaviors were abusive in retrospect than when they actually occurred.
Abstract: Retrospective recall of physical aggression and sexual behavior among siblings was investigated. Participants described behaviors between themselves and siblings in the family, their estimation of the appropriateness of the behavior, and their current relationship with their siblings. Additionally, participants completed measures of family structure and stress. Results indicated that rates of physical aggression among siblings was high, with varying severity. Rates of sexual behavior were lower. For both physical and sexual behaviors, participants were more likely to believe that the behaviors were abusive in retrospect than when they actually occurred. No differences were found in family structure among abusive and nonabusive siblings, but siblings who reported physical or sexual behaviors also reported higher levels of intrafamilial stress. Certain types of stressors may predict particular sibling relationships.
112 citations