Childhood Experiences of Sibling Abuse: An investigation into learned helplessness

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dc.contributor.authorMcLaurin, Shamla L.en
dc.contributor.committeechairJohnson, Scott W.en
dc.contributor.committeememberBenningfield, Anna Bethen
dc.contributor.committeememberPiercy, Fred P.en
dc.contributor.committeememberGalway, Alisonen
dc.contributor.departmentMarriage and Family Therapyen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:10:48Zen
dc.date.adate2005-04-27en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:10:48Zen
dc.date.issued2005-04-01en
dc.date.rdate2005-04-27en
dc.date.sdate2005-04-25en
dc.description.abstractAs various forms of interpersonal family violence receive more attention in the literature, sibling abuse is still in the background. Despite the increasing knowledge about the prevalence, causes, and effects of sibling abuse, many of us continue to relegate it to a childhood occurrence. Sibling abuse symptoms continue to go unrecognized and its demoralizing effects continue to be ignored (Wiehe, 1990). Minimization and denial of sibling abuse have also contributed to constraining the extent of knowledge related to this phenomenon. The present study seeks to add to the existing research confirming the existence of sibling victimization and its long-term impacts. This study has two primary purposes: 1) to capture the beliefs, feelings, and firsthand account of the abusive sibling experiences from the perspective of victims, and 2) to investigate the potential learned responses associated with sibling abuse and their possible impact on adult relationships by exploring participants' emotional and relational histories, and belief systems. This study presents data taken from a clinical sample of six adult female sibling abuse survivors. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted and data analyzed using cross case analysis, constant comparison, and analytic induction techniques. Data suggests the long-term impacts of learned responses associated with sibling abuse can be detrimental to both interpersonal relationships and mental health. Emergent themes related to family functioning and environment and resiliency after abuse are also presented. Implications of findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.identifier.otheretd-04252005-155705en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04252005-155705/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/27272en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartmclaurindissertation2005.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectfamily systemsen
dc.subjectmental healthen
dc.subjectdomestic violenceen
dc.subjectsibling abuseen
dc.subjectlearned helplessnessen
dc.titleChildhood Experiences of Sibling Abuse: An investigation into learned helplessnessen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineMarriage and Family Therapyen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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