Ep.60 | Non-Abused, Non-Abuser Siblings - Call for Research Participants with Anais Vanvliet

#SiblingsToo - Exploring the impacts of sibling sexual abuse

In this illuminating episode of the #SiblingsToo podcast, hosted by Nancy Morris, Anais Vanvliet returns to discuss her groundbreaking research on the experiences of non-abused, non-abuser siblings within families affected by child sexual abuse. Anais shares her passion for highlighting the often-overlooked impacts on these siblings, driven by her personal and professional commitment to the subject matter. Nancy and Anais delve into the critical need for more focused research and policy changes to address the gaps in support systems.

Diving deeper, Anais outlines her research's core questions, which explore both the experiences of these siblings and the current service provisions—or lack thereof—for them in Canada, particularly in Quebec and New Brunswick. She highlights the unique challenges and emotional impacts these siblings face, including feelings of isolation and jealousy, and the importance of trauma-informed approaches when engaging with them. Anais also touches on the broader conversation around sibling relationships in the context of family violence, emphasizing the need for comprehensive support systems and policy advocacy.

About our guest, Anais Vanvliet:

Anais Vanvliet is a PhD candidate in the School of Social Work at McGill University, focusing on the experiences and support needs of siblings in households where child sexual abuse (CSA) has occurred. Anais brings a unique perspective to her research with her lived experience as a sibling of survivors and her professional background as a trained social worker in sexual violence. Her work aims to enhance awareness, policy, and support systems for siblings affected by family violence in Canada.

Key Takeaways:

* The sibling dynamic in CSA-affected households is under-researched, leading to insufficient support for non-abused, non-abuser siblings.

* Anais aims to fill this research gap by focusing on these siblings' experiences and potential support needs.

* The impacts on these siblings can mirror those of the survivors, with additional unique challenges like feelings of exclusion.

* Current service provisions often overlook these siblings, highlighting a need for advocacy and policy changes.

* Anais's research seeks to provide data-driven insights to improve awareness and service provision for siblings affected by CSA and family violence.

Notable Quotes:

1. "All siblings in the household can be deeply impacted by sibling sexual abuse or child sexual abuse generally, even if they're not directly involved."

2. "There's really no research or very, very, very little on the experiences of siblings surrounding child sexual abuse in a family."

3. "My work hopefully will help to kind of fill those gaps."

4. "If someone is missing in the conversation, the conversation is missing."

5. "The timing is right to do this work because in Canada, we are slowly starting to pay closer attention to siblings in the context of family violence."

Resources:

* Contact Anais Vanvliet via email [e-mail] for participants interested in her research.

* Mention of the scoping review by Peter Yates and Amy Adams on sibling sexual abuse -https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0145213424004666

Explore the full episode to gain an in-depth understanding of the dynamics of sibling relationships in CSA-affected households and to learn more about the vital research being conducted by Anais Vanvliet. Stay tuned for more insightful discussions and research findings in upcoming episode

Timestamp

Summary

0:00

Exploring Sibling Dynamics in the Context of Family Violence

8:15

Proliferation of Positive Psychology Research Projects in Early 2000s

8:57

Exploring Impacts on Siblings in Child Sexual Abuse Cases

12:45

Understanding Trauma's Impact on Non-Abused Siblings

16:10

Exploring Sibling Experiences in Child Sexual Abuse Research

24:24

Advocating for Sibling Support in Family Violence Services

28:30

Exploring Sibling Dynamics in Cases of Family Sexual Abuse

34:13

Exploring Sibling Experiences in Child Sexual Abuse Research

39:38

The Importance of Conversations on Sibling Sexual Abuse