Literature Review
The problem of domestic abuse has been extensively studied by researchers worldwide, and one of the main forms of the phenomenon is sibling violence. There are many definitions for the notion of sibling violence, yet, generally, it can be referred to as an intention to inflict harm on a sibling by engaging in emotional or physical harassment (Perkins et al., 2017). Sibling violence can be caused by many different factors, including the lack of parent supervision, poor relationships among family members, and bullying at school. Research demonstrates that sibling violence also can lead to numerous negative consequences for the children who get involved in it. For instance, Tucker et al. (2020) conducted a study on sibling violence and discovered that it had a direct negative impact on the self-esteem, mental health, and delinquency of children subject to it. Thus, sibling violence constitutes a significant issue which has the capacity to affect the development of children and undermine their ability to function in society properly. As mentioned above, sibling violence can be caused by different factors; therefore, it becomes interesting to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns on it.
The global spreading of the new coronavirus disrupted many areas from businesses to healthcare systems and led to many negative outcomes, including high rates of deaths. The COVID-19 pandemic also caused a rise in the number of family violence incidents. A study by Usher et al. (2020) showed that during lockdowns, there was an increase in domestic abuse, and higher risk for children, while possible support options experienced a reduction. Children were particularly left vulnerable during the pandemic crisis and were exposed to various negative circumstances. The research by Bryant et al. (2020) indicated that the pandemic became a situation when children faced a high risk of encountering adverse childhood experiences. At the same time, a thorough search of academic databases has not yielded any results on the topic of the effects of the pandemic on sibling violence. Even before the pandemic, the topic of sibling violence was much less discussed by researchers than phenomena such as elder abuse and partner violence (Perkins & Grossman, 2019). Thus, there is a clear gap in the peer-reviewed literature on the topic of sibling violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Research Questions
Thus, the current study will address the problem of sibling violence during the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on children. Specifically, the purpose of the research will be to analyze how the pandemic affected the instances of sibling violence. Thus, the research question of the research will be: “How did the global COVID-19 pandemic affect the incidence of sibling violence among children?” Another research question will be the following: “What was the most common form of sibling violence, physical or emotional one?”
Research Design
The research will help to address the existing gap in knowledge about the relationship between the pandemic and sibling violence. The research will rely on a qualitative design which will involve conducting structured interviews with school students who have siblings. The researchers will ask the participants about the experiences of sibling violence during the pandemic, the forms of violence, and the difference in the incidence of violent events before and during the pandemic. In order to increase trustworthiness, the audio of all interviews will be recorded. The research will further the field of counseling by presenting evidence on the effects of pandemics on sibling violence.
Integration
The need to explore the topic of sibling violence during the pandemic also corresponds to the Biblical principles. As stated in the Bible: “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed” (Holy Bible, New International Version, 2011, Psalm 82:3-4). The quote demonstrates that it is the responsibility of all believers to protect those who are subject to injustice and abuse, whether it is physical or emotional. By conducting the current study, researchers will be able to gain critical information about sibling violence during the pandemic, which will help counselors to provide better support to children. For instance, if it is discovered that the pandemic contributed to the incidence of sibling violence, researchers will be able to design measures to prevent such a problem in the future. The COVID-19 pandemic is still affecting families around the world, and having information about all of its effects on interactions among siblings is crucial.
The research results will also be used for developing strategies on how to improve the relationship between siblings. The principle of defending the week in the case of conflicts among relatives also implies the need for forgiveness. All counseling work in terms of sibling violence must target the establishment of better relations among brothers and sisters and the prevention of violent acts in the future. Yet, as noted by McDugal & Behel, “Victims cannot be forced to forgive. Abusers cannot be forced to repent. To do either, is to violate God’s law of love and liberty” (2021, p. 106). Therefore, when applying the principle of protecting the week in cases involving sibling violence, counselors should not force children to forgive or repent. Instead, they need to analyze the results of the current research to determine how sibling violence during the pandemic can be avoided.
References
Bryant, D. J., Oo, M., & Damian, A. J. (2020). The rise of adverse childhood experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 2(999), 1–2. Web.
Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Biblica. Web.
McDugal, S., & Behel, K. (2021). Forgiveness and loving well in cases of abuse: A biblical perspective. Journal of Family Research and Practice, 1(1), 99–110.
Perkins, N. H., & Grossman, S. F. (2019). Sibling violence. Advances in Social Work, 19(1), 138–156.
Perkins, N. H., Coles, C., & O’Connor, M. K. (2017). Physical and emotional sibling violence and policy: An examination of Fox-Harding’s child care value perspectives. Child & Youth Services, 38(1), 4–23.
Tucker, C. J., Finkelhor, D., & Turner, H. A. (2020). Family and friend social support as mediators of adolescent sibling victimization and mental health, self-esteem, and delinquency. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 90, 703–711. Web.
Usher, K., Bhullar, N., Durkin, J., Gyamfi, N., & Jackson, D. (2020). Family violence and COVID‐19: Increased vulnerability and reduced options for support. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 29(4), 549–552.