Victimization by Siblings in Children with Disability or Weight Problems.

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Family Studies
• Victimization Research

Background:

• Sibling victimization is more prevalent than peer victimization but understudied.
• Children with physical disabilities, psychological disorders, or nonnormative weight are vulnerable to peer victimization.
• The specific risks associated with sibling victimization for these children remain largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between sibling victimization and specific child characteristics.
• To examine if physical disabilities, psychological disorders (internalizing, ADHD), or weight status (underweight, overweight) influence sibling victimization.
• To explore the types and extent of sibling victimization experienced by these children.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a US probability sample of 780 adult caregivers of children aged 0-9 in two-child households.
• Data collected via telephone interviews.
• Controlled for other forms of maltreatment and individual/family characteristics.

Main Results:

• Children with physical disabilities and those perceived as underweight or overweight experienced significantly more sibling victimization.
• Children with internalizing disorders experienced less sibling victimization.
• Children with physical disabilities and those perceived as overweight were at higher risk for experiencing multiple types of sibling victimization, including property victimization.

Conclusions:

• Children with physical disabilities or nonnormative weight are at elevated risk for sibling victimization.
• This study underscores the critical need for screening sibling victimization in families with children who have disabilities or atypical weight status.
• Findings emphasize the importance of addressing sibling dynamics in child welfare and clinical practice.