Trouble in the Nest: Precursors of Sibling Bullying

• In Event: 1-071 - Sibling Bullying: Precursors and Consequences

Integrative Statement

There is increasing evidence suggesting a link between sibling aggression and a range of negative mental health and wellbeing outcomes (Wolke et al., 2015), highlighting the importance of identifying the risk factors associated with sibling aggression. While several theoretical frameworks have been put forward to explain sibling aggression (e.g. evolutionary), there are no previous studies that have tested alternative predictions by these various theories. Furthermore, the majority of previous studies have mainly focused on structural and parenting factors, thereby neglecting other potential factors such as individual differences.

This study aimed to identify precursors of sibling bullying involvement in different roles (victim, bully-victim and bully) compared to those non-involved using a prospective birth-cohort from the UK. The final sample consisted of 6,838 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. We tested the relative association of four sets of precursors: (1) structural family characteristics, (2) parent and parenting characteristics, (3) early social experiences, and (4) individual differences with sibling bullying. Sibling bullying was assessed at 12 while the selected precursor variables were measured before the age of 8 years. A theory driven stepwise approach was used in order compare crude and within block associations of predictors with sibling bullying.

Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that children who were victimized by their siblings were more likely to have older brothers (victim: OR=1.75; 95% CI, 1.38-2.21; bully-victim: OR=1.71; 95% CI, 1.34-2.19), come from households with more than three children (victim: OR=1.25; 95% CI, 1.02-1.52; bully-victim: OR=1.68; 95% CI, 1.31-2.14), were victimized by siblings (victim: OR=1.16; 95% CI, 1.03-1.30; bully-victim: OR=1.18; 95% CI, 1.06-1.31) and peers (victim: OR=1.24; 95% CI, 1.01-1.52; bully-victim: OR=1.27; 95% CI, 1.02-1.51) in early childhood and were less likely male (victim: 0.81; 95% CI, 0.69-0.97; bully-victim: OR=0.75; 95% CI, 0.64-0.88). Victims further reported lower self-esteem (OR=0.91; 95% CI, 0.83-1.00) and higher levels of external locus of control (OR=1.12; 95% CI, 1.02-1.24). Children who perpetrated sibling bullying were more often first-born (bully-victim: OR=1.68; 95% CI, 1.31-2.14; bully: OR=2.64; 95% CI, 1.95-3.58), spent more time with their siblings (bully-victim: OR=1.15; 95% CI, 1.04-1.27; bully: OR=1.15; 95% CI, 1.01-1.30), reported more externalizing problems (bully-victim: OR= 1.16; 95% CI, 1.03-1.30; bully: OR= 1.17; 95% CI, 1.03-1.33) and antisocial behaviour (bully-victim: OR= 1.19; 95% CI, 1.08-1.32; bully: OR= 1.19; 95% CI, 1.08-1.32). Bully-victims further grew up with more parental conflict (OR=1.15; 95% CI, 1.04-1.28), while bullies were more often male (OR=1.66; 95% CI, 1.35-2.03), perpetrated sibling aggression in early childhood (OR=1.31; 95% CI, 1.15-1.50) and experienced more suboptimal parenting (OR=1.12’ 95% CI, 1.00-1.25).

Structural family characteristics as well as sex were the strongest predictors of sibling bullying. These findings support an evolutionary model. Parents may benefit from educational programs helping families deal with their children’s coping strategies in response to the arrival of a new baby. Parenting variables, early social experiences and child individual differences made smaller contributions, however this knowledge is equally important and may inform interventions aimed at reducing sibling aggression and bullying.

Authors

• Slava Dantchev, University of Warwick
  Presenting Author

• Dieter Wolke, University of Warwick
  Non-Presenting Author