Childhood Experiences of Sibling Abuse: An investigation into learned helplessness

As various forms of interpersonal family violence receive more attention in the literature, sibling abuse is still in the background. Despite the increasing knowledge about the prevalence, causes, and effects of sibling abuse, many of us continue to relegate it to a childhood occurrence. Sibling abuse symptoms continue to go unrecognized and its demoralizing effects continue to be ignored (Wiehe, 1990). Minimization and denial of sibling abuse have also contributed to constraining the extent of knowledge related to this phenomenon. The present study seeks to add to the existing research confirming the existence of sibling victimization and its long-term impacts. This study has two primary purposes: 1) to capture the beliefs, feelings, and firsthand account of the abusive sibling experiences from the perspective of victims, and 2) to investigate the potential learned responses associated with sibling abuse and their possible impact on adult relationships by exploring participants' emotional and relational histories, and belief systems. This study presents data taken from a clinical sample of six adult female sibling abuse survivors. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted and data analyzed using cross case analysis, constant comparison, and analytic induction techniques. Data suggests the long-term impacts of learned responses associated with sibling abuse can be detrimental to both interpersonal relationships and mental health. Emergent themes related to family functioning and environment and resiliency after abuse are also presented. Implications of findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Marriage and Family Therapy

Department dc:contributor.department

Marriage and Family Therapy

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• McLaurin, Shamla L.

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Johnson, Scott W.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Benningfield, Anna Beth
• Piercy, Fred P.
• Galway, Alison

• family systems
• mental health
• domestic violence
• sibling abuse
• learned helplessness

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-04252005-155705

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/27272