Sibling Abuse: Detection and Advocacy

Amy Meyers, PhD, LCSWThe College of New Rochelle

April 15, 2011

OverviewPurposeRelevanceDefine sibling abuseRepercussions of sibling abuseContributing family factorsEmotional ResonanceIntimate Relationships of the survivorRisk and ResilienceDetection and Advocacy

Purpose of the Study

survivors’ characterization of physical and emotional abusive experiences.

the effect of sibling abuse on survivors’

intimate relationships in adulthood.

Elements of Intimacy

TrustConflictCommunicationSatisfactionDependence/Independence

RelevanceImperative to the fields of:

Child welfare Child and family servicesSchool social workPediatric social workClinical practice

Defining Sibling Abuseinsistent, consistent, and persistent

charges of inadequacy, intimidation or control through physical force and/or emotional denigration (Wiehe, 1997).

intention, or the perceived intention, of causing physical or emotional pain or injury (Gelles, 1979).

rejecting, isolating, terrorizing and/or corrupting (Hart et. al. 1987).

The abusive sibling relationship is characterized by fear, shame, and hopelessness (Kiselica & Morrill-Richards, 2007)

Physical and Emotional Sibling Abuse

Physical abuse bruises, welts, abrasions, lacerations, wounds, cuts,

bone fracturesbehavior that is physically intrusive, physically painful

and experienced as physically overwhelming

Emotional abuse active expressions of rejectionactions that deprecate the sibling

verbal denigration and ridicule actions or threat that cause a sibling extreme fear and

anxiety (Schneider et. al, 2005).

Sibling Abuse is Not Sibling RivalrySibling rivalry > a normative developmental process among siblingsIncludes bouts of jealousy, aggression,

and low-level violenceFosters skills of competition,

negotiation, and conflict resolution (Gelles & Cornell, 1985)

Sibling abuse > intention or the perceived intention of causing physical or emotional pain or injury • Persistent and unrelenting acts

Literature Review: Sibling AbuseSibling abuse has repercussions in adult

relationships (Wiehe, 1990)Victimization and later dating violence amongst

survivors (Simonelli et. al., 2002)Learned helplessness among adult survivors

(McLaurin, 2005)Emotional cutting off of siblings leads to

depression, anxiety and subsequent difficulty with intimacy (Caffaro & Conn-Caffaro, 1998)

Foster children at high risk for sibling abusive relationships (Linares, 2006)

Ethnic differences in the interpretation and experiences of sibling abuse (Rapoza, Cook, Zaveri, & Malley-Morrison, 2010).

Literature Review:Sibling Relationships

Siblings influence:SocializationPerceptions of interpersonal relatedness (Leader, 2007)

Positive sibling relationships lead to: Higher self-esteem and emotional well-being Less depression and social anxiety (Sperling &

Berman, 1994)

Sibling relationships inform aspects of intimacy: Power and hierarchy Fairness and justice Communication styles Conflict resolution Friendship and loyalty

Theoretical Framework

Family Systems Object RelationsResiliency

Qualitative, exploratory studyGrounded theory and phenomenological

approach (Strauss & Corbin, 1998)

Purposive, convenience sampleSubject recruitment through fliers, online

advertisements, email list serves, colleges and universities

Subject criteria: 21 years or older and self-identified survivor of childhood or adolescent physical or emotional sibling abuse

Research Methodology

Characteristics of Informants

13 cases of physical and emotional abuse and 6 cases of emotional abuse only

16 female; 3 malePredominantly male>female (11) perpetration;

5 female>female; 3 male>male

Age range, 25-65 years old; median age = 40.

Sibling age difference: one to 10 years; median difference = 2 years

How Informants Describe Sibling Abuse

“Psychological torture”“Traumatic”“Debilitating”“Damaging”“Tragic”“Devastating”“Relentless”

Emotional ResonanceCompromised sense of self

Inability to TRUST others

• Insecurity•Fear of abandonment•Fear of dependence•Skepticism around support•Difficulty tolerating intense emotions

Emotional Resonance

• sense of aloneness• lack of validation regarding their

experience• lack of societal differentiation between

sibling abuse and sibling rivalry > SA as

normative

lack of entitlement to one’s perception of things

lack of self-worth

Findings: Intimate Relationships

Expectations of abandonment and difficulty trusting others results in:

∙ Anxiety and insecurity∙ Fear of dependence∙ Conforming and pleasing behavior ∙ Attachment to emotionally unavailable

partners∙ Difficulty trusting others∙ Sexual promiscuity

Healthy Family Functioning “Healthy” family functioning:

caring and mutually supportive relationships; effective parental leadership and autonomy;

protection of children; consistent patterns of interaction inclusive of

clear rules and expectations; acceptance of a range of emotional

expressions; and effective conflict-resolution processes (Walsh, 1993)

Risk: Parental Response

Passivity; lack of presence; uninvolved

Punitive; blaming the abused sibling or corporal punishment of the abusive sibling

Collusion with the abusive sibling

Unable to manage the abusive sibling

Therapy for the abused sibling  

Protective Factors: ChildhoodSupportive adult

Another siblingExtended family memberMentorFriend’s parent

• Creative outlets• Therapy

Detection- Child abuse- Child neglect (even in its more subtle forms)- Single parent status- Financial stress- Siblings with disabilities, substance abuse, or

behavioral problems- Siblings in caregiver roles- Poor parental modeling- Inappropriate hierarchical relations- Limited supports/social capital

AdvocacyPolicy – Child Welfare

o Develop statutes to assess for sibling abuseo Monitor identification of sibling abuse in

child welfare cases Organizations and Community

o Develop and implement assessment toolso Psycho-education of parentso Parenting skills

o Clinical Interventionso Develop support systemso Extracurricular activitieso Mentors/role models

Questions/CommentsAmy Meyers, PhD, LCSW

ameyers@cnr.edu914-654-5853

References: Available for distribution