Summary

No research has examined the influence of physical and emotional sibling violence (SV) on other types of family violence in a sample of South Asian immigrants in the U.S. To address this gap, 674 South Asian immigrant participants who had at least one sibling in childhood were obtained from a survey distributed on multiple sub-Reddit pages. Participants responded on their experiences with SV (perpetration and victimization of physical and emotional), adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), intimate partner violence (IPV), and in-law abuse (IA). Demographics, correlations, and two regression models were run to examine potential associations of SV on IPV and IA when controlling for demographic variables and ACEs.\ \ Participants had a mean age of 28.38 years, 42.3% were female, 38.9% were 1st generation immigrants, and 79.1% identified as heterosexual. Correlations between all types of violence (SV, ACEs, IPV, IA) were significant at p\<.001. No differences were found on differences in types of violence by gender. For IPV, the model was significant (F=465.73, p\<0.001, R2=.82) with gender, SV, ACEs, and IA significantly associated one’s experiences of IPV. For IA, the model was significant (F=459.69, p\<0.001, R2=.82) with generation status, SV, ACEs, and IA significantly associated one’s experiences of IA.\ With SV preceding IPV and IA in time, results demonstrate the need to include SV in understanding the violent experiences of South Asian immigrants. SV was correlated with all other types of violence and was associated with IPV and IA in this sample. Social workers working with SA immigrant populations should consider including SV in their assessments to ensure all potential forms of violence that one may experience are accounted for. Finally, psychoeducation of SV among South Asian immigrants is also warranted to inform children, adults, and families of the potential ramifications of SV.\ 

Keywords (separate with commas)

family violence, South Asian immigrants, sibling violence, in-law abuse, domestic violence, adverse childhood events

Summary

Research specifically examining protective factors, including healthy relationships, against the occurrence of physical and emotional sibling violence (PESV) are scant. This research study is the first of its kind to examine protective and compensatory experiences (PACEs) in relation to PESV in a sample of MSW students. Using data from a sample of MSW students across the U.S. (n=428), participants responded to items on PACEs, ACEs (Total Score, Abuse-subscore, Neglect-subscore, Household Challenges-subscore) and experiences of PESV in childhood as both perpetrator and victim as well as demographic questions. Correlations and linear regression models were run to examine associations between PACEs, ACEs, and experiences with PESV.\ Of the sample,\ 88.8% identified as female, 71% identified as White, and 67.3% identified as heterosexual with participants having a mean age of approximately 29. Correlations between PACEs, ACEs (Total Score, Abuse-subscore, Neglect-subscore, Household Challenges-subscore) and experiences of PESV in childhood (perpetrator and victimization) were significant with the PACEs score being negatively correlated with all other variables. In the first regression model (F(4,411)=12.04,\ p\<.001,\ R2=.11) Abuse-subscore and Household Challenges-subscore were significantly associated with PESV-perpetration with the Neglect-subscore approximating significance. In the second model (F(4,411)=22.95,\ p\<.001,\ R2=.18), the Abuse-subscore and Neglect-subscore \ were significantly associated with PESV-victimization. In neither of the models was PACEs significantly associated with PESV type.Research examining PACEs in relation to PESV requires attention to assess those aspects of childhood which may help prevent PESV from occurring. Future research should examine PESV and PACEs with diverse and international samples to better understand those factors which help buffer against PESV in childhood to inform prevention and interventions strategies aimed at addressing PESV. Furthermore, efforts to educate MSW students in the U.S. and internationally are warranted to address this form of family violence in all families across the globe. \ 

Keywords (separate with commas)

sibling violence, family violence, siblings, MSW students, protective factors, ACEs

Summary

With the steady growth of the world's ageing population social workers play a pivotal role by providing specialized services to strengthen the current care management systems especially “wrap around” services and in-home care for older adults and other persons who may be restricted in their home. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the government of the island nation of Barbados in the Caribbean embarked on a programme to help mitigate the effects of isolation on older adults living alone or lacking frequent visits from family by providing paid companions. Recently published research conducted on this programme concluded that companionship is not necessarily provided by relatives or carers due to the demand of other caregiving duties and that companionship can significantly improve older adults’ quality of life. Although the programme has proven to be a success in meeting older adults' needs due to a limited number of suitable personnel available many older adults are unable to access this social service. This conceptual paper considers whether professional social workers have the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes to provide companionship as a service to older persons. Social work training can provide the necessary skill development, core values, and knowledge acquisition to add to the slate of roles social workers can play by including professional companionship to older adults. The future development of social workers as companions to older adults is not only relevant during the pandemic time but as an avenue of effective practice in the continuum of at-home care for older adults. The purpose of this paper is to explore the phenomenon of paid companionship for older adults in relation to social work practice theory with a view to recommending it be included as a social work role.

Keywords (separate with commas)

social work practice, paid companions, quality of life, older adults