Attitude measurement of the relationship between fear of older brother and victimization using the Q method: (A case study Zabol University students; Iran)

Fear of the older sibling's position in sibling relationships can lead to various negative consequences, including domestic violence within the family. Therefore, the development of appropriate preventive policies to control and reduce the fear of this position can have a direct impact on reducing domestic violence and strengthening the foundation of the family. This study, conducted in 2022 using the Q-methodology and purposive sampling, aimed to identify the influential factors in the formation of bullying resulting from the fear of the older sibling's position. The findings of this research indicate that nine factors (mental patterns) with a cumulative variance of 34.78% play a key role in creating fear of the risk of bullying from the older sibling. Moreover, the inferential results of factor analysis suggest a significant relationship between bullying resulting from the fear of the older sibling's position and factors such as "intimate relationships, discrimination among siblings, age and gender, culture, power imbalance, vulnerability assumption, lack of self-esteem, instrumental violence, and lack of knowledge and skills."

Introduction

One of the challenges in sibling relationships is the fear of the older sibling's position due to the risk of experiencing bullying from them. In this context, it seems that both the fear of the older sibling and bullying can independently create a sense of helplessness and anxiety in individuals. Such a situation in sibling relationships can pave the way for other crimes. Therefore, neglecting to understand the influential factors in the formation of fear of the older sibling's position has been criticized from the perspective of crime prevention knowledge. The present study aims to explore the influential factors in creating fear of the older sibling's position and its relationship with sibling bullying. Existing research indicates that few studies have examined the relationship between fear of bullying resulting from the older sibling's position, creating a research gap regarding the factors contributing to fear of the older sibling's position and its relationship with bullying.

Methodology

This research employed a qualitative approach using the Q-methodology, with Q-statements generated and presented to participants. In the first step, participants were selected purposefully among students, and then Q-statements were provided to each of them. The validity and reliability of the research were also assessed. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS software.

Results and Discussion

The findings indicate that the factor of lack of intimacy in sibling relationships has the highest impact, accounting for 18.76% of the variance in creating fear of this position. Although the results reflect the participants' mental factors, the data analysis based on the hypotheses reveals nine factors (mental patterns) with a cumulative variance of 34.78% in creating fear of the risk of bullying from the older sibling, which plays a key role. Moreover, the inferential results of factor analysis suggest that attention to factors such as strengthening intimate relationships, reducing discrimination among siblings, considering age and gender, culture, power balance, reducing vulnerability, enhancing self-esteem, developing problem-solving skills, and enhancing knowledge and skills can significantly help reduce bullying in sibling relationships.

Conclusions

This survey aimed to identify the relationship between fear of the older sibling's position and sibling bullying, and the obtained factors from the selected statements reflect nine mental patterns regarding the reasons for creating fear of this position. Based on this, the most influential factor in creating fear of the older sibling's position is the lack of intimacy and respect between siblings, as children who lack intimate and respectful relationships with their older siblings experience more bullying, as respect plays a fundamental role in regulating their relationships. On the other hand, the least influential factor in creating fear of this position is knowledge and skill in preventing bullying in sibling relationships. Overall, various factors contribute to bullying resulting from fear of the older sibling's position, such as the presence of discriminatory structures in the family, gender roles, culture, power imbalance among siblings, the younger siblings' lack of self-esteem, an instrumental view of violence for problem-solving, and the lack of knowledge and skills in younger siblings to prevent bullying from the older sibling. Furthermore, the findings indicate that in societies where the culture of male dominance is prominent in family relationships, the fear of bullying among children is higher.

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