Sibling Sexual Abuse: Seven Studies, Seven Insights

By Dafna Tener

Background: Sibling sexual abuse remains underexplored, presenting intricate challenges for professionals. The limited existing research fails to capture its extensive impact on individuals and families across childhood and adulthood.Objective: This paper aims to comprehensively explore sibling sexual abuse, delving into its meanings, consequences, and implications for treatment and policy. Seven key insights were drawn from studies conducted between 2013 and 2020.Methods: Seven qualitative research projects on sibling sexual abuse conducted by the author and colleagues were reviewed. The studies utilized various data collection methods, including interviews and focus groups. The aim was to illuminate the issue's complexity from the perspectives of siblings, parents, and professionals.Results: The insights addressed crucial aspects, including the need for research-practice relationships, understanding the subjective experiences of sibling sexual abuse according to siblings and parents during childhood as well as adult survivors, the importance of disclosure, intervention complexities, and impact on professionals' lives.Conclusions: Sibling sexual abuse necessitates heightened attention in research and practice, urging deeper understanding, practical tools, and tailored policy approaches. Acknowledging these complexities is crucial to enhancing the lives of those affected. Professionals must navigate blurred boundaries between normative and abusive behaviors and grasp the profound impact on their work. Prioritizing nuanced multi-layer research could significantly improve the lives impacted by this phenomenon.

Unpublished paper 2024. 27p