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AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Lynn A. Fontana for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling presented on April 30. 2001. Title: The Experience of Sibling Relationships in the Voices of Children: Systemic Interviews of Dyads Following the Trauma of Sibling Incest and Its Recovery. Abstract appro Redacted for Privacy James This qualitative study investigated the sibling relationship as it was de scribed through the voices of the children. Ten sibling dyads (brother-sister or brother-brother) involved in family treatment following the discovery of sibling incest were interviewed. Participants in this study were participants in an outpa tient clinic in the Northwest during the years 1994 to 2000. The focus of the study was to explore how children describe the relation ship with their sibling following a traumatic intrusion into the relationship. For this reason, the interview did not highlight or specifically inquire about the nature, memories, or trauma arising from the incest. The research and treatment site con sisted of a recovery program for families and children experiencing disruption due to sexual abuse. The theoretical orientation and methodology of this study was systemic theory and narrative practice. As an exploratory study, a qualitative research design and methodology was developed based upon constant comparative methodology. The interview design and analysis was also situated in the systemic and narrative approach. The fmdings were organized through an emergent research design and on going inductive analysis. The conversations with the investigator were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using systemic and emergent constructs. The results depicted few positive interactions throughout their life to gether. Power and aggression were continually woven into the stories. Separating offenders from families, the intervention of (1) mental health treatment, (2) legal services, and (3) spiritual influences were depicted as helpful in changing percep tions. All children desired a positive relationship with their sibling in the future. The project's key contribution resides in its progress toward 1) evaluating the sibling relationship, 2) establishing that the key importance in treatment is for the development of a better relationship after clarification and resolution, and 3) considering individual needs of different sibling dyads. The Experience of Sibling Relationships in the Voices of Children: Systemic Interviews of Dyads Following the Trauma of Sibling Incest and Its Recovery Completed April 30, 2001 Copyright 2001 by Lyim A. Fontana The Experience of Sibling Relationships in the Voices of Children: Systemic Interviews of Dyads Following the Trauma of Sibling Incest and Its Recovery by Lyim A. Fontana A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Completed April 30, 2001 Commencement June 2001 Doctor of Philosophy thesis of Lynn A. Fontana presented onApril 30, 2001. APPRO VED: Redacted for Privacy jor Professor, representing Counselor Education Redacted for Privacy /.Director of School of Education Redacted for Privacy Dean of Graduate School I understand that my thesis will become part of the permanent collection of Ore- gon State University Libraries. My signature below authorizes release of my the- sis to any jeader upon request. Redacted for Privacy (Fontana, Author ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to the following people. Without their assistance and support, this project would not have been possible. First, I would like to thank the many children and their families with whom I worked. Their willingness to share their story with me has been painful and rewarding. Second, to the research site and the therapists there. They gener- ously allowed me to work in their site and gave me their full support and help to this endeavor. My thanks to the members of my dissertation committee (James Firth, chairperson, Dale Pehrsson, Ruth Harmelink, Alan Sugawara, Sam Vuchinich and Jim Wallace). We all stand on the shoulders of others greater than ourselves and my list of generous mentors and friends is long. I would particularly like to rec- ognize Len Borsari, Mavis Conlee, Cornelia Cerf, Sister Lucy 1-lutchinson, Sally Kassner, Jim MacPherson, Linda Ten and Dick Whiting for their generosity and belief in me. T also want to acknowledge, Steve Huke and Isabel Deaver who continu- ally reviewed this work, processed ideas with me, and helped with organizational suggestions, and to Jim Wallace who edited and reviewed this work. Thank you to Alisa Doebler for her consultation on ideas. I am blessed to have a husband who has not only been supportive and loving husband but who is a peer whom I could go to for feedback and focus about complicated and difficult aspects of this project. To my son Joshua and his wife Sandra who have been patient and supportive of this long endeavor and my dear daughter Manamaya Rayanalyn who has cheered me on and brought me such joy. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (Continued) I owe a special thanks to the people with whom I've shared a friendship while they have assisted me with typing and organizing data. Ginny. Wendy. Karla and Bill. Lastly let me not forget the friendships that have sustained me all these years, Meg Bethune, Kevin Wright, Barbara Christopherson, Linda Keller. Utako Dwyer, Ellen Selover, Pat Cook, Selene Mussel, Del Rhodes, Ronni Simmons, Denise Beard, Anita and Jerry Lindsay, Bill and Dianne Barkheimer and espe- cially to Leo Remington, Michael Schilmoeller, and Robert Wellenstien. Their belief in me has inspired me to persevere and to complete the full scope of this project. I most warmly thank my own family and especially my siblings who con- tinue to teach me some of life's most precious lessons. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .1 NARRATIVE AND FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY................................................................................ 3 FAMILY SYSTEMS AND NARRATIVE THEORY VARIABLES............................................................ 4 SIBLING RELATIONSHIP PATTERNS AS SELF-DESCRIPTION........................................................... 7 STATEMENTOF THE PROBLEM...................................................................................................... 9 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY............................................................................................................. 10 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE................................................................................................. 12 PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL SYSTEM INFLUENCES UPON THE SIBLING RELATIONSHIP........... 13 SIBLINGS CONSIDERED AS A FAMILY SUBSYSTEM....................................................................... 14 IMPORTANCE AND VALUE OF THE SIBLING RELATIONSHIP......................................................... 15 HISTORY OF THE STUDY OF SIBLING INCEST................................................................................ 18 FEMINIST CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STUDY OF SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS....................................... 19 IMPACT OF SIBLING INCEST......................................................................................................... 20 ETIOLOGY OF SIBLING INCEST..................................................................................................... 21 ISOLATION/PATRIARCHY............................................................................................................. 23 SIBLING PATTERNS OF INTERACTION.......................................................................................... 24 SELF-INTERPRETATIONS OF THE MEANING OF SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS...................................... 28 How SIBLINGS UNDERSTAND THEIR RELATIONSHIP.................................................................. 29 MEANINGS DERIVED FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF INCESTUOUS SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS........... 3 I TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) RECOVERING RELATIONS PROGRAM .37 SUBJECT RECRUITMENT AND ORIENTATION............................................................................... 37 PARTICIPANT INTERACTION........................................................................................................ 39 DEFININGTHE LABELS................................................................................................................ 43 RESEARCHQUESTIONS............................................................................................................... 45 DESCRIPTION OF DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS.................................................................. 46 INVESTIGATOR AS HUMAN INSTRUMENT.................................................................................... 47 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Video games, aggression, media and pornography............................................................... 83 Alcoholand drugs.................................................................................................................85 Parents, family and neighborhood.........................................................................................86 Commentary on the fathers ...................................................................................................89 Commentary on the mothers .................................................................................................91 Peerinfluences......................................................................................................................94 Expressions of loneliness from sibling girls..........................................................................96

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