Predictors of Sibling Victimization and Associations With Self-Perception and Relationship Attachment in Adolescence

Abstract

Research has shown that sibling victimization may be as detrimental to adolescent outcomes as peer victimization. However, many questions remain unanswered with regard to potential protective parenting factors and consequences sibling victimization among adolescents. This study tested a mediation model of sibling victimization with parental monitoring, a positive parenting factor, as a predictor and parent and peer-adolescent attachment as mediated by adolescent self-perceptions as potential outcomes. A three path mediation from parental monitoring → sibling victimization → adolescent self-perceptions → peer/parent-adolescent attachment was also tested. Structural Equation Modeling revealed that parental monitoring was negatively associated with sibling victimization only for girls. Sibling victimization had negative direct and indirect effects on parent- and peer-adolescent attachment via adolescent self-perceptions of social competence and self-worth. Findings suggest that parental monitoring may be important in the prevention of sibling victimization and self-perceptions may be an important point of intervention adolescents experiencing sibling victimization.