Exploring sibling aggression

Graduation Date

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Program

Other

Program

Thesis (M.A.)--Humboldt State University, Psychology: Counseling, 2015

Committee Chair Name

Chris Aberson

Committee Chair Affiliation

HSU Faculty or Staff

Keywords

Sibling aggression, Sibling conflict, Humboldt State University -- Theses -- Psychology, Sibling rivalry, Scale of negative family interactions

Abstract

Despite sibling aggression being widely accepted in society, it is the most common form of interfamilial abuse. Research has shown that physical aggression between siblings is positively correlated with negative effects on children. This study focuses on exploring sibling aggression and the differences between genders. 350 participants aged 18 to 35 filled out the Scale of Negative Family Interactions to assess retrospective sibling aggression experiences. This study found more than 99% of participants had a sibling aggression score higher than one. Hypothesis 1 stated that males would have higher total sibling aggression scores than females. Males (M = 37.30, SD = 28.82) and females (M = 37.99, SD = 28.62) did not differ significantly on total sibling aggression scores. Hypothesis 2 stated that siblings with three or less years of age between them will report more sibling aggression than farther age-spaced siblings. Support was found for this hypothesis, p .001, d = 0.50. Hypothesis 3 stated participants would report aggression occurring most frequently with siblings of the same gender. No significant relationship was found between participant gender and sibling gender, p = .59, Cramer's V = .03. Hypothesis 4 stated that sibling aggression would be reported as occurring most often in childhood (before age 11). Not enough evidence was found to support this hypothesis.

https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/44558g881

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