Abstract
Purpose Growing up with a sibling with a neurodevelopmental disorder can have positive and negative effects on personal, social and emotional well-being; however, little is known about the impacts on unaffected siblings’ quality of life. The purpose of this review was to synthesize evidence from studies evaluating the quality of life of unaffected siblings of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Method A systematic search was conducted on four databases to identify studies reporting the quality of life of unaffected siblings of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Results Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Four studies reported impaired quality of life in unaffected siblings of children with neurodevelopmental disorder while three studies reported not the impaired quality of life. Parents reported the lower quality of life for children with or without neurodevelopmental disorders compared to children’s self-reports. Conclusions This review provides the mixed evidence on the quality of life in unaffected siblings of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, and identifies the substantial gap in the research regarding the impacts of children's neurodevelopmental disorders on the quality of life of their unaffected siblings. Assessment of unaffected siblings’ quality of life is necessary to identify those who may be at risk and to provide support programs for physical and emotional well-being. Future research examining the quality of life of unaffected siblings across a variety of NDD is needed. Implications for rehabilitation Growing up with a sibling with a neurodevelopmental disorder influences the personal and social development of the unaffected child. Measuring quality of life can have a meaningful impact on the lives of unaffected siblings of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and their families. Evidence generated from such studies can be used by healthcare providers such as physicians, nurses, psychologists, and social workers to recommend appropriate supports to the family and siblings.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
