Citation

Tucker CJ, Van Gundy K, Sharp EH, Rebellon C. J. Adolesc. 2015; 45: 171-173.

Affiliation

The Carsey School of Public Policy, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA; Sociology Department, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.09.007

PMID

26473945

Abstract

We describe adolescents' perpetration of sibling aggression and its link to physical health two years later. In-school surveys at Time 1 (N = 331) and Time 2 (two-years later, N = 283) were administered to adolescents (at Time 1, Mage = 15.71 years, SD = .63; 52% female) living in the United States querying about perpetration of aggression toward a sibling closest in age and perceived physical health. The majority of adolescents perpetrated aggression towards their sibling (74%). Adolescents who were part of brother-brother pairs reported the most aggression. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that perpetrating sibling aggression more often at Time 1 was predictive of lower physical health at Time 2 controlling for Time 1 physical health and demographic characteristics. Perpetration of aggression toward a sibling is common and has negative health consequences in late adolescence suggesting this issue should be targeted to improve adolescents' sibling dynamics and physical health.

Language: en