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Association between early childhood aggression and internalizing behavior for sibling pairs
Abigail A Fagan1, Jake M Najman
1Community Youth Development Study, Social Development Research Group, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115, USA. fagana@u.washington.edu
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
|September 10, 2003
Summary
Sibling behavior shows a moderate association, with aggressive and internalizing problems linked in childhood. These findings emphasize including siblings in family interventions for behavior issues.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Early childhood problem behaviors can impact long-term development.
- Sibling relationships play a crucial role in a child's social and emotional development.
- Understanding sibling influence is key to effective early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the degree of similarity in problem behaviors between siblings.
- To examine the relationship between aggression and internalizing behaviors in young siblings.
- To determine if this similarity persists after controlling for family factors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from an Australian longitudinal study of health and development.
- Analyzed maternal reports on the Child Behavior Checklist for 414 sibling pairs (ages 0-5).
- Examined older and younger siblings' aggression and internalizing behaviors.
Main Results:
- Found a moderately strong association (r = 0.26–0.39) between sibling aggression and internalizing behaviors.
- This association was significant for both mixed-sex and same-sex sibling pairs.
- The sibling behavior link remained significant even when controlling for family characteristics.
Conclusions:
- Sibling behavior similarity is a notable factor in early childhood.
- Family-based intervention programs should consider the role of siblings.
- Targeting sibling interactions may enhance the effectiveness of behavior problem interventions.