Sibling Abuse, Attachment, and the Use of Social Provisions

Although the developmental significance of parent-child attachment is widely accepted, the role of sibling attachment in shaping relational outcomes remains underexamined. Similarly, while the impact of abuse on interpersonal functioning has been studied, abusive sibling relationships have often been overlooked. Siblings serve as early platforms for practicing social behaviors learned through parent-child relationships, suggesting that sibling abuse may disrupt broader social functioning across the lifespan. This study surveyed 128 adults on familial attachment quality, sibling abuse history, and perceived social provisions. Instruments included the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire, the Social Provisions Scale, and an exploratory instrument based on the Conflict Tactics Scale. Correlation and mediation analyses were conducted, with assumptions of linearity, normality, and homoscedasticity confirmed. Findings supported four hypotheses: (1) attachment quality correlated with perceived use of social provisions, with insecure attachments predicting reduced access; (2) secure attachments predicted lower abuse exposure; (3) greater abuse experience predicted diminished use of social provisions; and (4) abuse type differentially impacted related provision domains. Paternal and sibling attachments were positively associated with overall provisions, reassurance of worth, alliance, and guidance (r = .27-.39, p < .01), while emotional and Physical Abuse (PA) from siblings correlated negatively with support perceptions (Emotional/Psychological Abuse (EPA): r = -.32; PA: r = -.24). Regression models accounted for 15% to 22% of variance in outcomes, and mediation analyses identified EPA as a partial mediator. Results underscore sibling abuse as a salient developmental risk factor that disrupts nurturance, self-worth, and perceived access to social support. Sibling abuse should not be dismissed as normative rivalry but addressed through preventive and restorative interventions.