It is well documented that sibling bullying is associated with poor mental health. The prospective longitudinal relationships between sibling bullying and both positive and negative mental health remain unclear. Additionally, the developmental course of negative mental health after sibling bullying involvement is yet to be investigated.
Regression models were fitted to data from a UK-based Millennium Cohort Study (n=17,157, 48% female). Adolescents self-reported on sibling bullying in early- (age 11 years) and mid-adolescence (14 years) and on positive (general well-being and self-esteem) and negative mental health (internalising problems, externalising problems, psychological distress, and self-harm) in late adolescence (17 years). Primary caregivers also reported on internalising and externalising problems throughout adolescence. Sibling bullying involvement as a victim-only or bully-victim in early adolescence was associated with more symptoms of negative mental health and lower levels of positive mental health in late adolescence compared to those not involved in any sibling bullying. Being a bully-only was associated with externalising problems but no other aspect of mental health in late adolescence. Persistent sibling bullying victimisation in early- and mid-adolescence was associated with more symptoms of negative mental health and reduced positive mental health in late adolescence. Finally, the developmental course of externalising, but not internalising, problems during adolescence differed depending on the sibling bullying role in early adolescence. These findings suggest that, if causality can be established, sibling bullying in early adolescence likely affects the developmental course of externalising problems and has a detrimental effect both positive and negative mental health in late adolescence.
Toseeb, U., & Wolke, D. (2021, April 22 – Pre-Print). Sibling Bullying: A Prospective Longitudinal Study of Associations with Positive and Negative Mental Health during Adolescence. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/7saj8