Abuse by siblings and subsequent experiences of violence within the dating relationship

The present study examined the association between abuse by siblings and subsequent experiences of dating violence, comparing this to the relationship between parental abuse and dating violence. For males, dating violence was associated with abuse by older and younger brothers and sisters. For females, dating violence was associated with abuse by older siblings but not by younger siblings. Dating violence among males was more strongly associated with sibling abuse than with parental abuse. In contrast, for females, dating violence was more strongly associated with abuse by parents. Examination of the type of violence revealed that emotional and physical aggression received from parents and siblings were associated with expressed emotional dating violence among males and with expressed physical dating violence among females. The findings support the hypothesis that abuse by siblings, like abuse by parents, may contribute to a cycle of violence in the lives of persons victimized by sibling abuse.