Sibling Abuse Awareness
“Nearly one in six (17.3%) adults reported they had experienced four or more types of sibling abuse.”
We partnered with SAARA and created two videos: one highlighting physical abuse and one highlighting emotional abuse.
Background: Sibling violence is the physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse of one sibling by another. It’s the most common form of family violence, yet the least talked about.
Campaign Goals: Define and bring awareness to the issue and let others know that this kind of abuse happens regularly. It cannot be considered, “horseplay,” any longer.
Audience: Millennial white parents, who are more willing to change and discuss mental health issues with their children.
Big Idea: Changing the context around abuse where the action is the same, regardless of who instigates it.
Physical Abuse
Director/Editor: Tori Dudley Director/Strategist: Aliza Zobell Director of Photography: Porter Christensen
Emotional Abuse
Director/Editor: Tori Dudley Director/Strategist: Aliza Zobell Director of Photography: Porter Christensen
We have found through research that sibling abuse is not heavily discussed in our culture, despite nearly 20% of families reportedly struggling with it. Research finds that sibling aggression and abuse can have short- and long-term negative impacts on physical and mental health for both the harmed sibling and the sibling who causes harm.
“A survey of over 4,000 children aged 0-17 found that about one-third suffered aggressive victimization by a sibling in the past year. More children are victimized by a sibling than by a caregiver or their peers.”
Sibling abuse, to be considered abuse, depends on the intent, severity, and frequency of the abuse. Actions that are more severe, with the intent of causing harm, that happen frequently are considered abuse.
Visit https://www.unh.edu/saara/ for more information on sibling abuse.
