1-071 - Sibling Bullying: Precursors and Consequences

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Sibling relationships have been described as one of the most enduring interpersonal relationship experienced throughout the lifespan (Yucel & Yuan, 2015). Around 85% of children grow up with at least one sibling (Tippett & Wolke, 2015) and while sibling aggression has been reported as the most frequent form of interpersonal violence (Finkelhor et al., 2015), it is still largely normalized and overlooked by parents and health professionals (Khan & Rogers, 2015). Increasing evidence suggests an association between sibling bullying and a range of adverse mental health and wellbeing outcomes (Tucker et al., 2013; Wolke et al., 2015). Identifying the risk factors involved in the development of sibling bullying is essential in order to reduce or prevent this problem behaviour from emerging. This symposium will draw on longitudinal data from across the United Kingdom and the United States in order to discuss the early childhood precursors and long-term consequences of sibling bullying. First, the relative contribution of four sets of precursors to roles in sibling bullying (victim, bully-victim, and bully): (1) structural family characteristics, (2) parent and parenting characteristics, (3) early social experiences, and (4) child individual differences will be discussed. Second, the prospective association between sibling and peer victimization will be examined. Third, the link between sibling bullying in middle childhood and a number of mental health and high-risk behaviour outcomes in late adolescence/early adulthood will be explored. Last, the discussant will integrate the findings in a commentary on the practical implications of the work for practice and intervention.

Sub Unit

• Family Context & Processes

Chair

• Dieter Wolke, University of Warwick

Discussant

• Laurie Kramer, Northeastern University

Individual Presentations

• Trouble in the Nest: Precursors of Sibling Bullying - Presenting Author: Slava Dantchev, University of Warwick; Non-Presenting Author: Dieter Wolke, University of Warwick

• Sibling victimization patterns predict peer victimization in childhood and adolescence - Presenting Author: Corinna Tucker, UNH; Non-Presenting Author: David Finkelhor, University of New Hampshire; Non-Presenting Author: Heather Turner, University of New Hampshire

• The Long-Term Consequences of Sibling Bullying - Presenting Author: Dieter Wolke, University of Warwick; Non-Presenting Author: Slava Dantchev, University of Warwick