Sibling Aggression and Abuse Research and Advocacy Initiative (SAARA)

Sibling aggression is the most common form of family violence, yet it remains hidden and confused with sibling rivalry. Numerous studies have linked sibling aggression and abuse to worse mental and physical health and problematic interpersonal relationships with parents, peers, and romantic partners.

The Sibling Aggression and Abuse Research and Advocacy Initiative promotes awareness of sibling aggression and abuse and provides guidance on how to prevent and reduce their occurrences. This initiative grows out of calls for increased awareness of sibling victimization given its pervasiveness and harmfulness.

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When to be concerned about sibling sexual behavior: Troubling signs parents and professionals should look out for

Parents and professionals often overreact or underreact to apparent sibling sexual behavior. In this post on Psychology Today, SAARA researchers discuss how to identify harmful sexual behaviors between siblings.  Read More

An opportunity to address the most common form of family violence: Sibling aggression

Given the prevalence and impacts of sibling aggression, parenting education is needed. Yet evidence-based parent education programs generally do not address it. In this article published in the National Council on Family Relations' Family Focus, SAARA researchers propose how such information could be infused into parent education programming.  Read More

WWDMD? Sibling Abuse Series: A sibling abuse resource for support, advocacy, and change (Episode 65)

SAARA's Dr. Corinna Jenkins Tucker and Dr. Tanya Rouleau Whitworth were interviewed by Dr. Amy Meyers on her podcast, What Would Dr. Meyers Do?, about the difference between sibling aggression and abuse, the invisibility of sibling abuse, and SAARA's mission to create change.  Listen on YouTube