Self-reported experiences of sibling violence during childhood: Insight from a sequential explanatory mixed method study

Despite its pervasive and harmful nature, sibling violence is often trivialised as a harmless and inconsequential form of familial aggression. The primary goal of the present study was to analyse the relationship between self-reported experiences of sibling violence during childhood to examine the dynamics of this issue. A sequential explanatory mixed-method design was used for data collection. The quantitative element of the study involved 595 emerging adults, while the qualitative element examined the dynamics of sibling violence during childhood. The results of the quantitative analysis, previous literature, and theoretical constructs informed the development of a focus group discussion guide. Data obtained from the survey were analysed using thematic analysis before integrating the quantitative and qualitative findings. The results revealed that the majority of respondents were female (73.9%), aged 20 to 21 years old (49.9%), and had three to four siblings (50.3%). Most respondents reported having experienced psychological violence (57.7%) and frequently had disputes with their younger sisters (52.8%), with an average age difference of three to four years (25.9%). Additionally, the analysis showed a significant moderate relationship between self-reported experiences of aggression and sibling violence (r = .615, p < 0.01) during childhood. Through a sequential explanatory mixed method approach, this study highlights the complexity of sibling violence and makes the case for increased awareness and targeted intervention to address this form of family conflict.