Sibling separation and self-reported offending: An examination of the association between sibling placement and offending behavior

Abstract

This study uses data from the National Study of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II (NSCAW II) to examine the relationship between separation from siblings in out-of-home care and subsequent offending behavior in adolescence. While past research has examined the impact of being separated from siblings in foster care on problem behavior among youth, including internalizing and externalizing problems, no studies have addressed the association between sibling separation and delinquent/criminal behavior. Among the analysis sample (N = 380), participants who were separated from some but not all siblings at the first wave of data collection (mean age = 11.75) reported significantly more offending behavior than youth who were not separated from siblings, while youth who were separated from all siblings did not differ in offending behavior from youth who were placed with all siblings. Results of the current study provide support for the potential detrimental effect of sibling separation on youth functioning. Policy makers interested in reducing dual involvement of youth in the foster care system and the juvenile justice system should continue to emphasize the importance of preserving sibling relationships in out-of-home care. Future research should continue examining the relationship between sibling placement and later problem behaviors, as well as the mechanisms underlying these relationships.