Sibling sexual abuse: What do we know about the characteristics of sibling sexual abuse? Stage 2 analysis of a 2-stage scoping review

Mullins, E, Yates, P, Cain, S ORCID: 0000-0001-6841-5577 and Adams, A (2025) Sibling sexual abuse: What do we know about the characteristics of sibling sexual abuse? Stage 2 analysis of a 2-stage scoping review. Child Abuse and Neglect, 171. ISSN 0145-2134 (Accepted)

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Abstract

Background and Objective
Over the last four decades there has been increased research interest in the complex phenomenon of sibling sexual abuse (SSA). In this paper we critically examine the empirical evidence generated from this research to comprehensively synthesise what we know about the characteristics of SSA.

Methods
Using the guidelines of Arksey and O'Malley (2005), searching 11 academic databases, 3 grey literature databases, journal hand search and Google, we identified 104 empirical papers for Stage 1 of this SSA scoping review (Yates et al., 2025). A sub-sample of 60 papers were then identified for this Stage-2 review specifically on characteristics of SSA.

Results
We drew on the PAGER framework (Bradbury-Jones et al., 2022), identifying and analysing the key patterns, e.g., sex and age of children, age difference, type of sibling relationship. Key findings include, whilst male children are primarily noted as responsible, there is evidence of female siblings as responsible for SSA in reasonable numbers. Children responsible are mostly recorded as older, however children responsible can be younger than children harmed and can be as young as 3 years of age. The research evidence does not support an age gap as a criterion for sibling sexual behaviour to be determined as abusive. Significantly, our findings highlight key areas of limited knowledge, e.g., female children responsible, younger children responsible, trajectory of SSA. We note how the methodological approach of studies appears to impact the knowledge generated.

Conclusion
Whilst there is a substantial amount of evidence regarding the perhaps most commonly known characteristics of SSA (e.g., male children responsible, female children harmed, child responsible as older than child harmed), there are significant gaps in our knowledge. These gaps in our knowledge call into question how research choices and professional practices, embedded in cultural and societal norms around sex and sexuality, have shaped and perpetuated prevailing understandings of SSA, even in the face of evidence to the contrary. This highlights the importance of bringing together evidence from different methodological approaches and framings to generate a holistic picture of SSA and support prevention and intervention. We assert the need to question how knowledge of SSA is generated, and how this in turn influences and perpetuates what we understand about SSA.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	1602 Criminology; 1607 Social Work; 1701 Psychology; Developmental & Child Psychology; 4402 Criminology; 4409 Social work; 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date of acceptance:	5 May 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	11 May 2026
Date Deposited:	11 May 2026 11:37
Last Modified:	11 May 2026 11:37
DOI or ID number:	10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107808
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28549

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