An ARNP’s Opportunity to Address Family Violence: Screening for Harmful Sibling Aggression in Well Child Visits

An ARNP’s Opportunity to Address Family Violence: Screening for Harmful Sibling Aggression in Well Child Visits is organized by ARNPs United of Washington State and will be held on Aug 18, 2026.

Description:
ARNPs are often among the first points of contact for harmed children and their parents and have the potential to play a key role in the recognition and response of sibling aggression and abuse. Children’s experiences of sibling aggression is largely invisible, garnering little societal or professional attention, even as other types of interpersonal violence are recognized as public health concerns. The accumulation of evidence regarding risk factors and harms associated with sibling aggression necessitates that it be seen as a serious social problem, like other forms of family and peer aggression and abuse. ARNPs are critical to help ensure that all children have a safe and healthy family environment, inclusive of sibling relationships.

Violence between siblings is prevalent and can have lasting adverse effects, including lowered self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and poor peer relationships. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of implementing a sibling aggression screening tool in a pediatric primary care setting.

A sibling aggression screening tool was implemented over a one-week period in a pediatric primary care setting after provider education and resources were provided for context and support. A post implementation provider survey to collect provider feedback was implemented at the conclusion of the trial period.