This study develops and evaluates a theoretical model based on social
learning, conflict, and feminist perspectives to explain teenage sibling physical violence
and psychological abuse. Using regression analysis and data from 796 young adults,
considerable support is found for all three theoretical approaches and suggests an
integrated model best predicts acts of violence and abuse among siblings. For
physical violence, males and brothers had significantly higher rates. Spousal verbal
conflict, patriarchal attitudes towards the distribution of chores among siblings, attitudes
approving of the use of physical force during an argument, and sibling verbal conflict
were strongly related to sibling violence. For psychological abuse, neither gender nor
sibling pair was significant. The most important predictors for abuse were a close
maternal relationship, favoritism, parents yelling, sharing property I psychological stress,
patriarchal attitudes towards chores, approval of violence, and sibling verbal conflict.
The model explains considerably more of the variance in teenage sibling psychological
abuse than physical violence, 42 percent and 32 percent respectively. Finally, the
study provides directions for future research on sibling violence and abuse.
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