Study: Older brothers bully their siblings to establish dominance

By Staff Writer

A recent study reveals that older brothers are more likely than older sisters to bully younger siblings.

Italian researchers surveyed 195 children ages 10 to 12 who each had siblings that were no older than four years old, according to findings published in the British Journal of Development Pyschology. Boys were found to be more combative with their family members because of their elder status, whereas girls were more likely to bully a sibling based on the quality of the relationship, rather than their age.

One of the researchers suggested that many older sisters are raised to be responsible and protective toward their younger siblings, whereas boys are more likely to be hierarchical and seek dominance.

According to Education.com, a younger sibling who is bullied by their older brother can experience a higher level of aggression and transfer this behavior into the school setting.

Bullying has been a popular topic in the U.S. recently because of several teen suicides that were allegedly direct results of harassment from peers. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development reports that one out of five American children have admitted to being a bully.