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Adult Survivors of Sibling Sexual Abuse: Experiences and Impact
Abstract
Chapters 1 and 2 provide a comprehensive and broad overview of the existing Sibling Sexual Abuse (SSA) evidence base. This chapter will provide the first piece of empirical evidence from the research. The chapter will start with a discussion of the context, background and methodology of the study by the University of West England with 18 adult victim-survivors, who as children experienced SSA. The chapter then discusses the main outcomes from the research (i.e. participants perceptions of their abuse, the impact that it had upon the at the time as well as a cross their lives, the support they received from professional services and whether it was effective, and the broader social and political narratives surrounding SSA). The chapter will end with a discussion of how the findings relate back to the overall research project and existing literature.KeywordsFamily dysfunctionDisclosureReportingPreventionPublic and personal understanding
... Other reasons include parents (particularly mothers) being absent or otherwise unavailable; being threatened; not understanding the experience was abuse; and lacking the sexual knowledge, vocabulary and language to be able to describe their experiences (e.g. Cole, 1990;Taylor, 1996;Tener et al., 2020, King-Hill et al., 2023a. Children's sensitivity to parents' upset and distress may also limit the extent to which the details of the abuse are disclosed (e.g. ...
... A similar mix of reactions is found in papers reporting responses of professionals to disclosures by children and survivors (Doyle, 1996;Itzick et al., 2023;Katz & Hamama, 2017;King-Hill et al., 2023a;McCartan et al., 2022). Professionals were regarded as positive figures in the disclosure process if they believed the person's account, if they were encouraging, and especially if they made clear that the abuse was not the person's fault (Rowntree, 2007;Tener et al., 2020). ...
... As many of the children harmed have also experienced other forms of abuse, identifying the specific impact of SSA is challenging, except for survivors' own attribution. While there are some nuances, SSA involving any sex-pairing is harmful to both children involved (Beard et al., 2013;King-Hill et al., 2023a;McGrath, 2008;O'Keefe et al., 2014;Stroebel et al., 2013b), but the majority of papers concern brothersister abuse. What follows is a summary of the findings from those papers. ...
Background: Sibling sexual abuse is a common form of intra-familial sexual abuse, yet it remains under-studied and under-recognised, leaving many children unprotected and unsupported. Practitioners need rigorously conducted evidence syntheses to inform decision making in this complex practice area. Objective: A scoping review was conducted with the broad research question: What is known about sibling sexual abuse? in order to map the research and to establish areas of knowledge and gaps requiring attention. Method: The review followed the guidelines of Arksey and O'Malley (2005), and through searches of 11 academic databases, 3 grey literature databases, journal hand-search and Google, identified 91 empirical papers for review. Results: While poorly and inconsistently defined, sibling sexual abuse is a common form of child sexual abuse with significant consequences for the whole family. It may involve children of any age and sex, entail the full range of sexual behaviours, and can take place in families from across the socioeconomic spectrum. Disclosure is uncommon during childhood, with multiple barriers including the nature of the caregiving environment in which sibling sexual abuse often takes place. Official records are likely to under-report the frequency and duration of the abuse. Conclusions: There is considerable scope for further research across all aspects of sibling sexual abuse. This paper represents the most comprehensive (albeit not complete) overview of the current body of knowledge in this field to date, and presents key findings as well as a summary of practice and research recommendations. 3
Background: Sibling sexual abuse (SSA) is influenced by and occurs within an interconnected family system, because of this there is a growing move towards recognising SSA as a family issue. Families also play a vital role in the disclosure of SSA and in the aftermath of recovery. Never- theless, a descriptive review consolidating the known family dynamics, characteristics, and re- sponses associated with SSA is absent from research.
Objective: A scoping review was conducted to synthesise known family characteristics and dy- namics associated with SSA. The review also sought to explore how families respond following the disclosure/discovery of SSA.
Method: Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) five-part scoping review framework was used. Web of Science, PsycInfo, ProQuest, Google Scholar and specialist journals were searched for empirical research and results were assessed for eligibility, leaving 28 studies in the final review.
Results: SSA was related to: (1) family demographics, (2) a history of abuse and neglect within the family, and (3) household stressors and environmental factors. The review also found that fam- ilies largely respond using strategies of minimisation.
Conclusions: Research and practice need to ensure that SSA is understood within the context of family dynamics and histories, in a way that may not be necessary when understanding other ‘types’ of child sexual abuse (CSA). Consideration must be given to the fact that children affected by SSA can be situated in families where, as well as SSA, there is a history of abuse and neglect within the family, and various environmental stressors are present.
While sibling sexual abuse may be the most common form of sexual violence within the family, relatively few studies have been conducted on this topic. The current study addresses this gap in the literature through analyses of thematic categories in narratives gathered from an online survey of sibling sexual violence. Survivors were asked to report why they believed their siblings had become sexually abusive toward them. Participants believed that their abusers had learned to be abusive due to their own victimization or exposure to pornography, were abusive to establish dominance over them, or had some undisclosed mental illness. While the study does not claim to test these explanations or include abusers’ own narratives, it offers insight as to how sibling sexual violence survivors make sense of their experiences and assign blame to abusers and their families. It also offers insights into future inquiries about sibling sexual abuse.
Sibling sexual abuse is a far more common manifestation of family
violence than is often recognized. Researchers agree that it has received
less attention than other forms of child abuse trauma despite the fact that
good evidence suggests it is no less injurious than child sexual abuse
when a parent or other adult is the perpetrator. This paper describes a
relational, strengths-based approach to psychotherapy with adult
survivors of sibling sexual abuse guided by trauma informed
principles.Cultural considerations are discussed as well as an overview of the
clinical research on sibling sexual abuse and its harmful effects. Clinical
case material, treatment strategies and a case illustration demonstrate
therapeutic principles of the approach in action.
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Sibling incest is an understudied field despite its high prevalence rates. The current study was designed to characterize the way children describe their experiences and perceptions following alleged sibling incest. The sample consisted of 20 forensic investigations with children who were referred to forensic investigation following suspected sibling incest. The age range of the children was between 6 and 12 years old, including 17 girls and three boys. Thematic analysis was conducted on all the interviews and the children’s perceptions greatly echoed the ecological framework while they elaborated on three levels: family level, in which children discussed the context of the abuse and the disclosure; sibling level, in which children discussed their siblings’ behaviors and the grooming process; and the child level, in which the children discussed their own behavior during the abuse. The discussion highlights the relevance of the ecological framework to the study’s results and stresses the complexity of this phenomenon and the challenges it raises for practitioners in various contexts—child protective, forensic, and clinical.
Thematic analysis is a poorly demarcated, rarely acknowledged, yet widely used qualitative analytic method within psychology. In this paper, we argue that it offers an accessible and theoretically flexible approach to analysing qualitative data. We outline what thematic analysis is, locating it in relation to other qualitative analytic methods that search for themes or patterns, and in relation to different epistemological and ontological positions. We then provide clear guidelines to those wanting to start thematic analysis, or conduct it in a more deliberate and rigorous way, and consider potential pitfalls in conducting thematic analysis. Finally, we outline the disadvantages and advantages of thematic analysis. We conclude by advocating thematic analysis as a useful and flexible method for qualitative research in and beyond psychology.
This paper examines the thematic treatment issues presented in a small, clinical practice setting by eight women aged 56 through
69 who were sexually abused by their brothers/stepbrothers during childhood and seeking therapy for issues dealing with a
terminally ill and/or dying parent. The reemergence of traumatic issues and family dynamics with aging parents and end-of-life-issues,
dealing with a previously abusive brother, and treatment recommendations on managing reactions, affect, and boundaries are
presented.
KeywordsSibling sexual abuse-Aging parents-Older sexual abuse survivors
This case study focused on the process of making sense of abuse in two Latino families experiencing sibling incest. Participants
included five male children ranging in age from 8 to 15 that were members of two families dealing with the issue of sibling
incest. The purpose of this study was to build understanding of how families experience sibling incest and its role in their
families. Clinical data from therapy sessions was analyzed to reveal that families made sense of the incest in different ways
including abuse as normal and abuse as a mistake. Central concepts that explained how the families responded to the sibling
incest included (1) level of family cohesion, (2) role of secrecy, and (3) view of outside systems. The findings suggest that
treatment needs to include an in-depth assessment regarding these issues.
Society's awareness of sibling incest and assault, and its response, has lagged behind other child abuse issues and concerns. In comparison with parent–child abuse, intersibling abuse is generally underreported by parents, teachers, mental health professionals, and the community. Child Protective Services and the legal system are reluctant to accept and respond to sibling abuse reports that are filed. This article reviews an integrative, multidimensional approach for conducting assessment and psychotherapy with children and families where sibling abuse has occurred. Clinical examples and selected research results are included to illustrate fundamentals of treating sibling incest and assault victims and their families. Treatment for sibling incest and assault requires multidisciplinary cooperation and usually, the coordination of services among several provider systems. Like child abuse treatment in general, it is complex and challenging work that requires ongoing specialized training and ability.
Background:
'Harmful sexual sibling behavior' is a term used in this study to refer to childhood sexual behaviors, including abuse (SSA), that are inconsistent with the category of age-appropriate curiosity. Although SSA may be the most prevalent and longest-lasting form of intrafamilial sexual abuse, it is the least reported, studied, and treated.
Objective:
This study aims to deepen our understanding of the sexual characteristics and dynamics of such behavior, as perceived by those involved.
Participants and setting:
Twenty adults from the Orthodox community in Israel, who experienced sexual interactions with one or more of their siblings, were recruited as participants.
Methods:
This qualitative, constructivist, grounded-theory study was based on semi-structured interviews with 20 adults.
Results:
Four types of sexual dynamics were revealed: an "abusive dynamic," "mutual relations," "sexual routine," and "incidental," with the latter stemming from a new understanding that deepens our knowledge of the subject. The participants discussed the broad, long-term consequences and life-long psychological implications of each dynamic and the coexistence of these dynamics. The results also reveal two cultural dimensions of the participants' perception of the sexual acts: "lack of sexual knowledge" and "the perception that all religious prohibitions are of equal severity."
Conclusions:
The findings highlight the importance of adapting interventions to the siblings' perceptions and avoiding treatment that exacerbates their complex situation. We employ the concepts of dynamics and dimension in describing the phenomenon rather than continuum. The study also highlights the importance of understanding relevant religious-cultural factors.
Sibling sexual abuse is estimated to be the most common form of intra-familial sexual abuse, yet remains an under-researched phenomenon. It raises challenges for practitioners to recognise the abuse and to balance the competing and often conflicting needs of the children in the family. This chapter reviews the relevant literature and outlines future directions for research and practice, arguing for a whole family approach that maintains a child developmental perspective rather than responses derived from adult sex offending, and the particular significance of understanding sibling relationships.
While there is substantial research focused on the prevalence, outcomes, and practical challenges associated with child sexual abuse, there are limited resources specific to sibling sexual abuse (SSA). As a result of the limited literature there is inadequate empirical support for policy development to guide identification, assessment, and intervention for children and families who have experienced SSA. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to examine and address these challenges with the goal of contributing to an evidence base that can inform policy and reduce barriers to care for children and families who have experienced SSA. Concerns related to identification including definitional issues and parental knowledge and perceptions are explored, as are those related to disclosure including child and caregiver perceptions and beliefs. Barriers related to treatment are discussed, including professional and caregiver response, and relevant cultural considerations. The paper concludes with a discussion of research and potential policy solutions aimed to address the identified challenges for children and families.
To measure adjustment of women survivors of sibling incest, 35 adult female survivors and a matched comparison group of 21 women were interviewed and completed questionnaires regarding their adult adjustment. Sibling incest survivors reported significantly higher anxiety, depression, hostility, and adult victimization and lower self-esteem. Beliefs about child sexual abuse mediated the relationship between sibling incest and depression and anxiety for survivors, the majority of whom believed that men cannot be trusted, it is dangerous to let others get close, and that a normal life is not possible for them because of the abuse they suffered. Other forms of child abuse were significantly associated with self-esteem and depression, but not anxiety, among survivors. Adult victimization was also associated with increased depression and anxiety in survivors.
Retrospective data from 1,821 women and 1,064 men with one or more siblings, provided anonymously using a computer-assisted self-interview, were used to identify risk factors for sibling incest (SI); 137 were participants in SI. In order of decreasing predictive power, the risk factors identified by the multiple logistic regression analysis included ever having shared a bed for sleeping with a sibling, parent-child incest (PCI), family nudity, low levels of maternal affection, and ever having shared a tub bath with a sibling. The results were consistent with the idea that SI in many families was the cumulative result of four types of parental behaviors: (a) factors that lower external barriers to sexual behavior (e.g., permitting co-sleeping or co-bathing of sibling dyads), (b) factors that encourage nudity of children within the nuclear family and permit children to see the parent's genitals, (c) factors that lead to the siblings relying on one another for affection (e.g., diminished maternal affection), and (d) factors that eroticize young children (e.g., child sexual abuse [CSA] by a parent). Thirty-eight of the 137 SI participants were participants in coerced sibling incest (CSI). In order of decreasing predictive power, risk factors for CSI identified by multiple logistic regression analysis included ever having shared a bed for sleeping with a brother, PCI, witnessing parental physical fighting, and family nudity. SI was more likely to have been reported as CSI if the sibling had touched the reporting sibling's genitals, and less likely to have been reported as CSI if the siblings had shared a bed.
© The Author(s) 2014.
Great advances have been made regarding the study of child sexual assault since the 1970’s. In spite of these advances, the gravity of sibling sexual abuse has largely been overlooked in sexual abuse literature. This paper uses peer reviewed research to highlight some of the major issues and unique long-term consequences associated with sibling sexual abuse. Specifically, an altered version of the Conflict Tactics Scale Straus (Journal of Marriage and the Family 41:75-88, 1979) and The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale Rosenberg (1965) were used to explore the long-term impact on self-esteem for those having experience with sibling sexual abuse as a child. In addition, clinical considerations for working with survivors, offenders, and families are provided.
The impact of sibling sexual abuse (SSA) has been culturally and therapeutically minimised and has received scant research attention. Furthermore, prior research has focused upon the separate experiences of the victim or the offender, or upon seeking family dysfunction explanations. In contrast, this qualitative study attempts to understand the experiences of all family members (victims, offenders, parents and other siblings) when SSA is disclosed. The pathway to recovery for each family member is identified. A systemic analysis of these (often conflicted) pathways of recovery provides some surprising findings and contributes to an understanding of the difficulties facing families in this situation, the constraints on family support and connectedness, validation for the victim and offender accountability.
The impact of child sexual abuse by siblings has sometimes been dismissed as relatively unimportant. This is particularly true when perpetrator and victim are less than five years apart in age. There has been little recognition that older children can be abused by younger ones.
This article examines the experiences of twelve women who were abused by their brothers. Some of them were only a few years younger than the perpetrators, and in four instances the sisters were older than their brothers.
The twelve share the emotional burdens of most victims of child sexual abuse. However, there are aspects of their experiences which have some qualitative differences. The areas where this is particularly apparent are in relation to minimisation of the impact of the abuse, establishing responsibility and expressing anger, relationships with parents, physical dimensions and concern for the future. The survivors' perspectives on these issues are discussed
The occurrence of sibling incest is underrecognized, and its impact is debated. Professionals may be inadequately sensitized to its occurrence since it is considered less traumatic to victims than other forms of incest and assigning responsibility in such contact between minors is difficult. Survivors may be unlikely to reveal such a history because of guilt and shame. Four case presentations of females who expereinced sibling incest illustrate problem areas, including issues of enforced secrecy, interpersonal power differentials, influences on sexual development, individual aftereffects, disturbance in family dynamics, and genderbased differences in relationship styles. Recommendations for identification and treatment are included.
Working with groups of people who have been sexually abused introduces mutual experiential themes into the process that can
be beneficial and meaningful. This paper discusses brother–sister incestuous sexual abuse with implications for group work.
Literature and research is reviewed concerning sexual abuse, incest, family relationships, and theories that aid in explaining
incest. Themes covered include: effects of incest, coping methods, blaming, and family of the victim. Common themes are explored
and implications for group work are suggested on the basis of length, detail, structure, content, and pre-group contact.
Retrospective recall of physical aggression and sexual behavior among siblings was investigated. Participants described behaviors between themselves and siblings in the family, their estimation of the appropriateness of the behavior, and their current relationship with their siblings. Additionally, participants completed measures of family structure and stress. Results indicated that rates of physical aggression among siblings was high, with varying severity. Rates of sexual behavior were lower. For both physical and sexual behaviors, participants were more likely to believe that the behaviors were abusive in retrospect than when they actually occurred. No differences were found in family structure among abusive and nonabusive siblings, but siblings who reported physical or sexual behaviors also reported higher levels of intrafamilial stress. Certain types of stressors may predict particular sibling relationships.
Sibling sexual abuse is identified as the most common form of familial sexual abuse. Extant literature is plagued by definitional inconsistencies, data limitations, and inadequate research methodology. Trivialized as "normal" sexual exploration, sibling sexual abuse has been linked to psychosocial/psychosexual dysfunction. Research has relied on retrospective, convenience, and/or homogenous samples. This work drew on eight years of National Incident-Based Reporting System data (2000-2007) to provide aggregate level baseline information. This work extended prior research exploring victim-, offender-, and incident-based characteristics. Results highlight the need for expanded definitional criteria relating to both age and gender to better inform risk assessment and prevention. Findings both corroborate and contrast prior work and suggest victim- and offender-based gender differences.
The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of older brother-younger sister incest from the perspective of the women who experienced it in childhood or adolescent years. Dynamics in the families-of-origin were also explored, as these related or contributed to the effects from the incest. Seventeen women were interviewed, using an in-depth, semi-structured interview. Four self-report objective instruments were also administered that measure dynamics in the family-of-origin and symptomatology that is often associated with the effects of trauma. Interview and objective data were analyzed by systematically organizing the women's perceptions and conceptualizations into common themes. All of the women's families of origin were described as dysfunctional. Common effects reported included mistrust of men and women, chronic low or negative self-esteem, sexual response difficulties, and intrusive thoughts of the incest. Women regarded individual therapy, talking with supportive family and friends, and validating themselves as victims at the time of the incest as ways in which they have helped themselves to deal with the effects of the incest. These results have important implications for therapy, including serious consideration of the impact and contribution of this kind of incest on reported symptomatology, and on emerging issues and conflicts in the therapeutic process.
The purpose of the present study was to explore the frequently observed dynamics distinctive to the sibling incest family system, and to evaluate how these dynamics might predispose the family system to act out its dysfunction through sibling sexual conduct. Being a descriptive study by nature, the data is based on 25 families which were reported to the Boulder County (Colorado) Sexual Abuse Team between May 1982 and December 1985. The 25 families yielded a significant pattern of common dynamics. Those dynamics which were repeatedly observed throughout these cases were: distant, inaccessible parents; parental stimulation of sexual climate in the home; and family secrets, especially with regard to extramarital affairs. The implications of the findings suggest that the patterns that are emerging are becoming more predictable, making prognosis and therapeutic intervention far more encouraging.
Sibling incest is the least investigated but probably the most common form of incest. This study describes a predominantly Caucasian, middle-income sample of sibling incest offenders from primarily intact families. Demographics, behavioral dysfunction, psychiatric diagnoses, history of victimization, family characteristics, and abuse characteristics are presented. Findings included that 92% of the offenders had a history of being physically abused, whereas only 8% had a history of sexual victimization. Issues of parental denial and minimization and intergenerational transmission of abusive patterns are discussed. Sibling incest demands further attention from clinicians and researchers.
One group of women who were sexually abused by brothers and a second group who were sexually abused by fathers are compared with the intent to identify the differing characteristics of each type of abuse and the effects of the abuse on their adult functioning. Our hypothesis was that there would indeed be differences in the characteristics of the abuse and its effects, and that this would necessitate differing treatment strategies.
Surveys were distributed to women attending support groups for incest survivors. Of the 62 women completing questionnaires, 14 women (23%) had been sexually abused by a brother. A similar number of women (15) who had been sexually abused by their fathers were chosen from the overall sample for comparison.
The absence of the father as a vital force in family life played a key role in the sexual abuse of women by their brothers in every case. The duration of the sexual abuse for brother-abused women and father-abused women was lengthy. The characteristics, including use of force, are equally as serious for sisters as for daughters. The family circumstances surrounding the abuse were examined for both groups and the results yielded a fuller understanding of the incestuous family. Despite an appearance of normalcy, the level of family-wide disturbances, for example substance abuse, mental illness and pervasive family-wide violence were profound for both groups. In this study, we also examine the effects in adulthood of the serious disruption of childhood developmental phases for both brother-abused and father-abused women, taking into account the incidence of substance abuse, depression, suicidality, and eating disorders.
The authors conclude that the characteristics and consequences of brother-sister incest are of equal seriousness to those of father-daughter incest. This would suggest that brother-sister incest is one of the current blind spots in incest research, and one that we cannot afford to ignore. In-depth knowledge of the dynamics and effects of brother-sister incest suggest specific treatment strategies are indeed necessary and these are discussed in this paper.
An exploratory study was conducted with a convenience sample of 41 adult survivors of sibling incest using a retrospective survey design. Participants were interviewed about their childhood sexual experiences with a sibling. Most participants reported vaginal or oral intercourse and coercive experiences. Half of the sample reported sexual experiences with family members, as well as other child abuse. Half of the participants showed evidence of distorted beliefs about child sexual abuse. Disclosure of the incest during childhood was rare. doi:10.1300/ J070v15n04_02.
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