Since both peer victimization and sibling victimization are negatively associated with mental health and may share common family origins, the current study examined whether there are common family characteristics (family climate, interparental conflict, and parenting) in the prediction of sibling and peer victimization.
The study employed a nationally representative sample of U.S. children ages 5−17 (N = 2,659; 51 percent male, mean age = 10.60 years, 58 percent White). A telephone interview was conducted with a parent of children ages 5–9 and with children ages 10–17. Multinomial logistic regression showed that sibling and peer victimization were both associated with exposure to family adversity, family violence, and child maltreatment. Sibling victimization was also associated with inconsistent or harsh parenting. The odds ratios of the family characteristics of interest did not differ for sibling versus peer victimization, suggesting overlap in the family etiology of sibling and peer victimization; however, sibling victimization did not appear to have unique associations to demographic characteristics. Sibling victimization was most common in White and educated families. The study advises that shared familial elements of sibling and peer victimization could benefit both family-violence prevention and antibullying programs by promoting positive interactions in both sibling and peer relationships. (publisher abstract modified)