Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

During the past 20 to 30 years, professionals have given increased attention to intrafamilial incest, primarily addressing father-daughter incest. More recently, sibling incest, a type of intrafamilial incest, has received notice from mental health professionals; how-ever, many professionals still do not recognize the seriousness of the problem. Some professionals have asserted that sibling incest is as common as, and possibly more common than, parental incest. The prevalence of sibling incest can only be estimated because sex between siblings as a phenomenon has been poorly researched. This article reviews current research on the individual and family dynamics that allow sibling incest to occur, the effects of sibling incest on victims, and current treatment protocols.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Abrahams, J. , & Hoey, H. (1994). Sibling incest in a clergy family: A case study. Child Abuse and Neglect, 18(12), 1029-1035.

Adler, N. A. , & Schutz, J. (1995). Sibling incest offenders. Child Abuse and Neglect, 19(7), 811-819.

Ascherman, L. L. , & Safier, E. J. (1990). Sibling incest: A consequence of the individual and family dysfunction. Bulletin of the Menniger Clinic, 54, 311-322.

Bess, B. E. , & Janssen, Y. (1982). Incest: A pilot study. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 4, 39-52.

Canavan, M. M. , Meyer, W. J. , & Higgs, D. C. (1992). The female experience of sibling incest. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 18(2), 129-142.

Daie, N. , Witztum, E. , & Eleff, M. (1989). Long-term effects of sibling incest. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 50(11), 428-431.

DiGiorgio-Miller, J. (1998). Sibling incest: Treatment of the family and the offender. Child Welfare, 77(3), 335-347.

Finkelhor, D. H. (1979). Sexually victimized children. New York: Free Press.

Finkelhor, D. H. (1980). Sex among siblings: A survey of prevalence, variety, and effects. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 9(3), 171-193.

10.

Finkelhor, D. H. , Hotaling, G. , Lewis, I. A. , & Smith, C. (1990). Sexual abuse in a national survey of adult men and women: Prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors. Child Abuse & Neglect, 14, 19-28.

11.

Hanson, R. K. , & Bussiere, M. T. (1998). Predicting relapse: A meta-analysis of sexual offender recidivism studies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 66, 348-362.

12.

Mandanes, C. (1990). Sex, love and violence. New York: W.W. Norton and Company.

13.

O’Brien, J. O. (1989). Characteristics of male adolescent sibling incest offenders. Orwell, VT: The Safer Society Program.

14.

O’Brien, M. J. (1991). Taking sibling incest seriously. In M. Q. Patton (Ed.) Family sexual abuse: Frontline research and evaluation (pp. 75-92). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

15.

Rudd, J. M. , & Herzberger, S. D. (1999). Brother-sister incest—father-daughter incest: A comparison of characteristics and consequences. Child Abuse and Neglect, 23(9), 915-928.

16.

Smith, H. , & Israel, E. (1987). Sibling incest: A study of the dynamics of 25 cases. Child Abuse and Neglect, 11, 101-108.

17.

Veneziano, C. (2000). The relationship between adolescent sex offender behaviors and victim characteristics with prior victimization. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 15(4), 363-375.

18.

Wiehe, V. R. (1990). Sibling abuse: Hidden physical, emotional, and sexual trauma. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.

19.

Worling, J. R. (1995). Adolescent sibling-incest offenders: Differences in family and individual functioning when compared to adolescent nonsibling sex offenders. Child Abuse and Neglect, 19(5), 633-643.

Sibling Incest

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References