May 9, 2025
SAARA Bulletin #10. This bulletin aims to help professionals and practitioners identify factors that indicate when it is unsafe for siblings to live together due to physical or psychological abuse, severe aggression, or harmful sexual behaviors.
August 5, 2024
The next step in bullying prevention is the dissemination of information on sibling aggression and its impacts. Sibling aggression is not harmless and should be taken as seriously as its peer equivalents. Adapting peer bullying education efforts to include information about sibling aggression will promote children’s and adolescents’ well-being and increase safety at school and home.
August 2, 2024
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) screenings for children, parents, and adults should be broadened to include sibling aggression and abuse (SAA) experiences. Positive screenings for SAA necessitate training for practitioners and professionals on SAA and the continued development of evidence-based interventions aimed at preventing and healing from SAA.
July 29, 2024
The goal of this bulletin is to define sibling sexual abuse (SSA) and provide guidance for parents and professionals on how to respond. Professionals responding to sibling sexual behavior may find their training on child sexual abuse and maltreatment to be helpful; however, keep in mind that there are unique dynamics in sibling relationships that are important to consider.
January 1, 2024
Sibling abuse can be just as harmful as parental child maltreatment, leaving injuries and mental distress, yet there are no consistent statutory policies for responding to it.
October 26, 2023
This bulletin reviews variation in sibling aggression rates and perceptions across race and ethnicity, gender, social class, ability, and sexual identity to help make researchers and practitioners aware of potential sources of difference in how sibling aggression is experienced.
October 24, 2023
During conflict and play, aggressive behaviors like biting, pushing, making threats, or using intimidation, are common and often considered normal between siblings. This bulletin provides guidance on identifying when sibling behavior has crossed the line.
May 6, 2023
SAARA Bulletin #3. The goal of this bulletin is to provide guidance for parents and professionals on preventing and responding to sibling aggression and abuse and improving sibling relationships.
April 22, 2023
When children are young, parents can play an important role in managing sibling conflict while helping their children gain social and cognitive abilities. By using the mediation technique explained in this bulletin, parents help children become better able to resolve conflicts with their brothers and sisters.
April 8, 2023
Unfortunately, aggression, and even abuse, among siblings are often minimized and confused with rivalry. Knowing the difference is important. While sibling rivalry can be a constructive and healthy part of growing up, sibling aggression and abuse are harmful and require intervention.
