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Abstract

Sibling influence on the learning and enactment of aggressive behavior has been consistently demonstrated in studies of sibling relationships. Available evidence suggests that, compared with nonaggressive children's sibling interactions, the sibling interactions of aggressive children are marked by more frequent, intense, and prolonged aggressive behaviors. Although research on normative and aggressive children's sibling interactions has increased recently, a number of limitations in this literature were addressed in this study by: (1) including both an aggressive and nonaggressive comparison group, (2) examining both positive and negative features of sibling relationships, (3) employing a multimethod/multiinformant approach to data collection, and (4) utilizing an improved self-report method. In support of our hypotheses and consistent with previous research, results showed that aggressive children's sibling relationships were marked by higher levels of observed conflict and lower levels of self-reported positive features. When gender was examined, results showed that older brother/younger sister dyads were characterized by higher levels of negative features and lower levels of positive features.

Sibling relationship patterns and their associations with child competence and problem behavior.

“…Numerous earlier studies have found that sibling relationships between sisters are the closest and most positive of all sibling pairs (Aguilar et al, 2001;Buist, 2010;Derkman, 2011;Whiteman & Loken, 2006). Conversely, also consistent with earlier studies with older samples, sibling pairs with an older brother were overrepresented in the conflictual sibling relationship type.…”

Dyadic family relationships and adolescent internalizing and externalizing problem behavior: Effects of positive and negative affect

“…Whereas there have been some studies indicating that there are differences between same-sex and mixed-sex sibling pairs concerning quality of the sibling relationship (Aguilar, O'Brien, August, Aoun, & Hektner, 2001;Tucker, McHale, & Crouter, 2001), a recent study has also shown that the effects of sibling relationship quality on delinquency was similar for the four different gender combinations (Buist, 2010).…”

Fighting With Siblings and With Peers Among Urban High School Students

“…Specifically, social norms condemn male violence against females, even within mixed-gender sibling relationships. Parents are less tolerant of boys hitting girls than the reverse (Aguilar et al, 2001; Reese-Weber, 2008; Straus, Gelles, & Steinmetz, 2006). Because information on gender of siblings was not collected, we were unable to examine this topic more fully and it deserves attention in future work.…”

“…Second, we did not know the age of respondents’ siblings, and the age composition of sibling pairs impacts the level of physical aggression (Aguilar et al, 2001). Specifically, non-playful physical aggression with siblings when the age gap is greater than 7 years is unusual.…”

“…Additionally, Menesini, Camodeca, & Nocentini (2010) found an association between being bullied or victimized by siblings and being victimized by peers and classmates. Research examining the association between peer and sibling aggression has focused primarily on children and early adolescents (i.e., 10-13 years of age) (Aguilar, O'Brien, August, Aoun, & Hektner, 2001; Duncan, 1999; Ensor et al, 2010; Menesini, Camodeca, & Nocentini, 2010). Whether a similar association exists for mid-late adolescents is unclear.…”