NCJ Number
227690
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: May-June 2009 Pages: 339-354
Date Published
June 2009
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examined the ages up to which mental health and child protective services workers think it is suitable for mixed gender and same gender siblings to engage in family practices related to hygiene, affection, and privacy issues.
Abstract
A significant portion of study respondents felt it was never acceptable for siblings to take showers together (40 percent), kiss on the mouth (37 percent), or toilet together (32 percent). Results of study showed some significant differences occurring based on the gender of the older sibling within sets of same gender or mixed gender pairs, with older brothers being acceptable up to lower ages than older sisters. The effects of child abuse, age, race, and the amount of education on the respondents' answers were also investigated. Professionals and parents frequently question how long siblings should engage in certain family practices. This research attempts to affix some ages that can be used as guideposts until further research can be conducted. A questionnaire was given to 500 mental health and child welfare professionals asking for maximum acceptable ages for siblings to engage jointly in certain family practices related to hygiene, affection, and privacy. Tables, references, and appendix