Depression on children. ....

Being bullied regularly by a sibling could put children at risk of depression when they are older.

Around 7,000 children aged 12 were asked if they had experienced a sibling saying hurtful things, hitting, ignoring or lying about them.

The children were followed up at 18 and asked about their mental health.

A charity said parents should deal with sibling rivalry before it escalates.

Previous research has suggested that victims of peer bullying can be more susceptible to depression, anxiety and self-harm.

This study claims to be the first to examine bullying by brothers or sisters during childhood for the same psychiatric problems in early

'Twice as likely'

Most children said they had not experienced bullying. Of these, at 18, 6.4% had depression scores in the clinically significant range, 9.3% experienced anxiety and 7.6% had self-harmed in the previous year.

The 786 children who said they had been bullied by a sibling several times a week were found to be twice as likely to have depression, self-harm and anxiety as the other children.

In this group, depression was reported by 12.3%, self-harm by 14%, and 16% of them reported anxiety.

Girls were slightly more likely to be victims of sibling bullying than boys, particularly in families where there were three or more children.

Older brothers were often found to be responsible.

On average, victims said that sibling bullying had started at the age of eight, the study said.