Sibling Abuse: Detection and Advocacy
description
Transcript of Sibling Abuse: Detection and Advocacy
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