However, this appears to be much less reliable when considering sibling abuse, with ages making no significant reported differences to levels of force, coercion or impact on victims in later life ( Cyr et al, 2002). Age differences typically indicate power differentials between children. Caution is also urged when making assumptions about sexual behaviours between similar-aged siblings. However, social workers should also be alert to sexual abuse between same-sex siblings ( Krienert and Walsh, 2011). In the family in the documentary, Kath had been abused by her older brother Robert and this is the most common relationship where we see sibling sexual harm. Although the most commonly occurring sexual behaviour amongst siblings is exposing, fondling or rubbing genitals ( Krienert and Walsh, 2011), penetrative abuse and use of force are higher when compared to harmful sexual behaviours involving non-sibling children ( TideforsВ et al, 2010). Sexual abuse between siblings has far-reaching effects on the health and wellbeing of victims ( WarringtonВ et al, 2017), and is considered by some as no less harmful than when a parent or other adult is the perpetrator ( Caffaro, 2017). Research suggests that sibling sexual abuse is rarely a one-off occurrence ( Katz and Hamama, 2017) and those who sexually harm siblings commit more acts of abuse, and over longer periods of time than young people who abuse extra-familial children ( Tidefors et al, 2010). Sibling sexual harm is believed to be the most common form of all family sexual abuse ( Krienert and Walsh, 2011), with some estimates that it is at least five times more prevalent than parent-to-child sexual abuse ( Smith and Israel, 1987). At least as common and harmful as other forms of family abuse Sibling sexual abuse definitions lack consensus and this makes it difficult to estimate rates of sibling sexual harm when comparing such a wide range of behaviours. Similar to harmful sexual behaviour involving children outside of the family, sibling sexual harm usually includes developmentally atypical behaviours, differences in power, some degree of coercion or force and an absence of consent. Not all sexual behaviours between siblings are harmful and it is important to distinguish childrenвЂ™s sexual play and exploration from behaviour that constitutes abuse. Community Care Inform also provides further guidance and resources for social workers responding to sibling sexual abuse. Nevertheless, there are a number of key findings from the research that are useful for social workers when responding to this critical practice issue, which this article will briefly summarise. Research studies vary in quality and are mostly based on small samples, limiting their transferability. However, sibling sexual abuse has received only a small amount of attention in practice, policy and research literature. Media representations of abuse influence public perceptions of risk, and consequently the response to such concerns by professionals, organisations and policy-makers ( Cowburn and Dominelli, 2001). Programmes such as this are something of a rarity and serve an important role by stimulating discussion about the reality of child sexual abuse. The programme laid bare the traumatic effects of historic sexual abuse on Kath, leading to a restorative justice meeting with Robert in which he heard about the harm Kath experienced and offered an apology. The Family Secret (available online till 2 January) followed Kath and her family some 25 years after she was abused by her older brother, Robert, in their childhoods. Channel 4 recently aired a one-off documentary on sexual abuse within a family.

Dual family secrets