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Author(s): Nathan H. Perkins [sup.1] , Abha Rai [sup.1] , Susan F. Grossman [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.164971.c, 0000 0001 1089 6558, School of Social Work, Loyola University Chicago, , [...], The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted families in a variety of ways with much being written on the potential impact of sheltering in place and quarantining on intimate partner violence and parent-to-child abuse. One area that has received scant attention is that of physical and emotional sibling violence. While physical and emotional sibling violence is a predominant form of family violence, discussion of violence between siblings in the time of COVID-19 has not received the attention it warrants. This article examines the potential for family stress to place siblings at risk for engaging in physical and emotional sibling violence and how this is exacerbated in the time of COVID-19. Also discussed is the the connection between physical and emotional sibling violence and other forms of family violence including intimate partner violence and parent-to-child abuse and neglect which underwrites the need to place physical and emotional sibling violence on the radar of practitioners, policy makers, and researchers. Finally, implications for practice, policy, and research on physical and emotional sibling violence in the context of COVID-19 are discussed.

Based on CSWE's 2015 EPAS, students in MSW programs are expected to have knowledge of research methods. However, an understanding of how students perceive these courses as they pertain to their future careers as social work practitioners is less known. This qualitative study examined what MSW students learned about themselves as a result of taking a foundational research method course taught with a social justice lens. Five themes emerged from the thematic analysis including critical thinking, using research as a social worker, research and social justice, expanded ability to engage in research, and what students learned about themselves. Implications of including critical reflection and social justice in research courses for MSW students are discussed.

Purpose: Domestic violence manifests in unique ways in South Asian immigrant communities. Given the need to uphold family honor, formal help-seeking remains minimal within this community. Individuals experiencing victimization rely on friends and family members as informal sources of support. These friends and family members may also be bystanders who witness victimization. Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine differences in participant responses to an online interactive bystander intervention developed for South Asians. Methods: To get community response to the intervention, B.R.A.K.E. The Cycle, a Qualtrics link with all the intervention scenarios was posted on 21 sub-Reddit pages. Screeners to ensure that participants were of South Asian origin, 18 or older and currently residing in the United States (US) were added. True to the study purpose, to examine differences across gender and generational position, we conducted descriptive analysis and chi-square tests. Results: There were differences in scenarios by gender and immigration position. Some of the main findings point to the need to report domestic violence, seek help (formal or informal) as well as surprisingly some responses justified the use of force by a male partner. We discuss these in-depth by scenarios. Discussion: This is the first study to examine differences in bystander preference and response to using an intervention that was developed specifically for the South Asian community. Social workers can utilize this intervention to create dialogue around domestic violence prevention and the role of bystander within the South Asian and potentially other immigrant communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic violence has been a cause of concern during the pandemic. Immigrants have been more vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19, given systemic and cultural barriers. Utilizing a bio-psycho-social framework, the goal of this exploratory cross-sectional study was to examine the correlates of DV victimization among immigrants (N = 419, 41.5% male and 56.8% female) across the United States. Gender, age and race were included as biological and demographic factors (model 1); mental health and psychological stress were included as psychological factors (model 2); and generational position, household income, and family connections were included as social factors (model 3). A hierarchical logistic regression was performed. The sample comprised male and female participants. About 31.3% of participants were White, while the remaining were from diverse racial groups and 43.5% were 1st generation. We observed that 35.1% (60) men and 28.3% (66) women experienced at least one form of DV victimization. Women and those who were older were less likely to experience victimization. An increase in mental health distress and limited family connections were associated with a higher likelihood of DV victimization. This study examined the rates of physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, financial and immigration-related abuse experiences of immigrants in the United States. Our findings point to the need for services to be offered to all genders and the need for more social support for immigrants. The inclusion of male and female survivors of DV adds to the novelty of this study. Practitioners in particular can play an important role in providing culturally responsive support to immigrants experiencing victimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an effort to address social determinants of health and to reduce barriers to care, there have been increased attempts to understand and mitigate public health concerns in ethnic minority communities. As knowledge increases regarding the impact of health disparities on ethnic minority communities, social workers practice knowledge must expand to include intersectional approaches and methods that are inclusive of mechanisms that address inconsistencies in access to health care. Using the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), this study examined behavioral health and psychosocial risk factors that African American and Latinx women (n = 7008) experienced and identified how these factors are associated with self-reported overall health. Results indicated that overall health and wellbeing is linked to psychosocial risk factors, such as depression, substance use, and even age for African American and Latinx women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the consequences of physical and emotional sibling violence, which can last into adulthood, research examining this form of family violence is minimal compared to child abuse, interpartner violence, and elder abuse. One area that has received scarce attention is the connection between physical and emotional sibling violence and attachment in close relationships in adulthood. This research study examines the association between physical and emotional sibling violence and adulthood attachment in a sample of 2,458 individuals who completed a survey on the sub-Reddit platform "/r/SampleSize: Where your opinions actually matter!" Participants completed items on demographics, frequency of physical and emotional behaviors experienced with a sibling in childhood, and adult attachment. Results found physical and emotional sibling violence in childhood to be associated with attachment in close relationships in adulthood. Frequency of physical and emotional sibling violence in childhood was also associated with comfortability with intimacy and closeness, comfortability of depending and relying on others, and concerns of abandonment and rejection by others in adulthood. The findings underscore the need to not only include physical and emotional sibling violence in future research on attachment but also to examine the connection between these phenomena in diverse samples (ethnicity, sexual orientation). Also highlighted is the need for practitioners to assess sibling relationships when working with children, families, and adults experiencing attachment issues throughout the life course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been an increase in awareness as it relates to women's health, particularly regarding psychosocial health risks as it relates to social determinants of health in communities of color. However, there have been minimal studies conducted that have examined the overall health and wellbeing of women representing the Latinx community. Using data from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the following study examines self-reported overall health in a national sample of Latinx women. The primary aim of this study is to: (1) examine the experiences that Latinx women are having with psychosocial risks factors (i.e. smoking, substance use, depression, and suicidal ideation) within a national sample; and (2) identify the social determinants of health that Latinx women are experiencing in rural and urban communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Asian (SA) immigrants are one of the fastest-growing immigrant groups in the United States. Due to the stigma associated with domestic violence among SAs, disclosing victimization experiences may be challenging. In circumstances where experiences are disclosed, informal help-seeking through family/friends is utilized more often than formal help-seeking. Therefore, it is essential for friends/family to be empowered to effectively intervene. B.R.A.K.E. the Cycle has been developed as an innovative online intervention for SA community members (informal resources) to provide support to those experiencing abuse. The goal of this intervention is to enhance responsibility and knowledge among bystanders. Utilizing a culturally responsive intervention is an integral step in enriching services provided by practitioners serving immigrants, which we highlight in this practice note. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date no research has examined Master of Social Work (MSW) students' capacity to address physical and emotional sibling violence (SV) and those factors which may influence this capability. This pilot study examined a sample of MSW students in the Midwestern United States and their perceived capacity to address physical and emotional SV including the influence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Results from students' self-assessments indicated most students had not been exposed to SV content and ACEs were correlated with receiving and perpetrating SV. Differences were found based on the number of ACEs experienced and the frequency of SV behaviors, but not the capacity to address SV. Implications for training students are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite existing research, which has focused on the impacts of intimate partner violence (IPV) on mothers and their children, there is a paucity of research specifically examining mothers' perceptions of parenting in the context of IPV. This qualitative study explored parenting capacity and meaning making among a purposive sample of 16 female survivors of IPV who experienced IPV during both childhood and adulthood and had at least one school-aged child. Participants completed semi-structured in-person interviews during which they were asked a series of questions about their experiences with IPV and their parenting practices. Analysis revealed that parenting capacity could be categorized by two capacities: relational and operational. Based on these descriptive accounts of the experiences of parenting in contexts of IPV, a preliminary model suggesting a Dual-Part Model of Parenting (relational and operational capacity) is presented to aid in understanding the complexity and nuance of how parenting capacity may be impacted by IPV exposure throughout the lifespan. Strengths-based approaches to supporting survivors in parenting are explored, and future implications for strengths-based approaches to clinical practice with IPV survivors as well as improved research practices and social policies that emphasize an intersectionality approach are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical and emotional sibling violence is a common form of family violence with negative repercussions. Research on the experiences and perceptions of practitioners regarding sibling violence is scant. The researchers interviewed facilitators of parent intervention groups for child maltreatment to understand how sibling violence impacts the families they work with. This exploratory qualitative study examines the perspectives on sibling violence of five group facilitators. An inductive thematic analysis process was used to code the data and develop themes. Five themes emerged from the analysis including Parents lack of knowledge and awareness regarding sibling violence, Stress in parents and the family system, Crossing the line, Individual and developmental aspects, and Mechanisms to help parents address sibling violence. Facilitators identified challenges with definition and assessment of sibling violence, potential contributing factors for the occurrence of sibling violence, as well as strategies to help these families. Implications and future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical and emotional violence among siblings is one aspect of family dynamics that is often overlooked by practitioners working with children and families receiving services for abuse and neglect. One [...]

Physical and emotional sibling violence is a problematic occurrence for many children, adults, and families, yet this form of violence rarely falls within the purview of state laws and policies. Failure to protect laws offer one avenue through which sibling violence can be addressed by holding parents and caregivers accountable for harm that occurs to a child in their custody. This article provides background information on physical and emotional sibling violence as well as a general overview of failure to protect laws in the context of intimate partner violence with particular consideration of these laws in addressing sibling violence. In addition, the role social work practitioners can play in intervening and addressing sibling violence through psychoeducation leading to policy (i.e., failure to act laws) is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social work has played an integral role in the conceptualization and implementation of policy aimed at prevention and intervention of various forms of family violence. Seminal federal policies to address child abuse and neglect (Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act), elder abuse (Elder Justice and Older Americans Acts), and intimate partner violence (Violence Against Women and Family Violence Prevention and Services Acts) all focus on specific types of violence in the family. To date, however, there are no federal policies specifically addressing physical and/or emotional sibling violence (Perkins, Coles, & O'Connor, 2017; Perkins & O'Connor, 2016). This article examines the exclusion of policy addressing physical and emotional sibling violence considering other family violence policies. Along with prevalence, consequences, and associative factors connected to sibling violence, definitional issues that impede the creation of policy to address this form of family violence are highlighted. Children as a marginalized population, deserving the attention of social workers through policy advocacy will be discussed as well as psychoeducation and interprofessional collaboration that may facilitate the creation of policies aimed at addressing this form of family violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]