Protective and Compensatory Experiences in Childhood & Physical and Emotional Sibling Violence

Background: Research has found physical and emotional sibling violence (PESV) to be the most common form of family violence that exists (Straus et al., 2006). While research in the area of PESV is increasing, much of the research in this area focuses on outcomes and those factors such as adverse childhood events (ACEs) which are related to PESV. Research specifically examining protective factors, including healthy relationships, against the occurrence of PESV are scant. This research study is the first of its kind to examine protective and compensatory experiences (PACEs) in relation to PESV in a sample of MSW students.

Methods: Using data from a subset (n=428) of a larger national sample of MSW students across the U.S., participants were recruited by emailing directors of all MSW programs across the country who forwarded information about the study to MSW students. This study focuses particularly on participants’ responses to items on PACEs (Morris et al., 2018), ACEs (Total Score, Abuse-subscore, Neglect-subscore, Household Challenges-subscore; SAMHSA, 2018) and experiences of PESV (Perkins, 2014) in childhood as both perpetrator and victim as well as demographic questions to examine potential association between these variables. Correlations and linear regression models were run to examine associations between PACEs, ACEs, and experiences with PESV. IRB approval was obtained, and data was analyzed using SPSS 28.

Results: Of the sample, 88.8% identified as female, 71% identified as White, and 67.3% identified as heterosexual with participants having a mean age of approximately 29. All correlations between PACEs, ACEs (Total Score, Abuse-subscore, Neglect-subscore, Household Challenges-subscore) and experiences of PESV in childhood (perpetrator and victimization) were significant with the PACEs score being negatively correlated with all other variables. In the first regression model (F=(4,411)=12.04, p<.001, R²=.11) Abuse-subscore (p=.003) and Household Challenges-subscore (p=.024) were significantly associated with PESV-perpetration with the Neglect-subscore (p=.05) approximating significance. In the second model (F=(4,411)=22.95, p<.001, R²=.18), the Abuse-subscore (p=.005) and Neglect-subscore (p<.001) were significantly associated with PESV-victimization. In neither of the models was PACEs significantly associated with PESV type.

Conclusion: Research examining PACEs in relation to PESV requires attention to assess those aspects of childhood which may help prevent PESV from occurring. In this study PACEs were significantly associated with PESV (both perpetrator and victimization) independently but were not associated with PESV when controlling for other factors. Future research should consider the separate items from the PACEs scale as well as other childhood protective factors and experiences which may protect children from experiencing PESV. Understanding those factors which help buffer against PESV in childhood may help to inform prevention and interventions strategies aimed at addressing PESV.