Intervention For Siblings Research Articles

Cultural applicability and desirability of ‘Broodles’: The first serious game intervention for siblings of children with disabilities

ObjectiveSerious games can serve as easily accessible interventions to support siblings of children with disabilities, who are at risk of developing mental health problems. The Dutch serious game ‘Broodles’ was developed for siblings aged 6–9 years. The current study aims to assess the cultural applicability, desirability, feasibility, and acceptability of ‘Broodles’ in Norway. MethodsNorwegian siblings (N = 16) aged 6–13 years and parents (N = 12) of children with intellectual disabilities assessed the game. Their feedback data from interviews and questionnaires were sorted using a model of engagement factors in serious games. ResultsAt pre-use, participants showed interest in the game, and after initial use the participants were overall positive about the format, content and objectives, including validation of emotions and recognition. The participants had suggestions for improved engagement and feasibility. ConclusionThe game was found to be culturally applicable, desirable and acceptable, although Norwegian translation is necessary for further evaluation. Recommendations to enhance engagement were provided, including suggestions to play the game with parents or in a group. InnovationThis initial assessment of the serious game Broodles in a non-Dutch setting shows promise for an innovative way of supporting siblings of children with disabilities.

Sibling influences on adolescent alcohol use during the spring 2020 COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.

To examine the bidirectional associations between adolescent siblings' alcohol use before and during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spring 2020 and whether youths' stress about missed social connections (i.e., social disruption stress) moderated these associations. The sample consisted of 682 families (2,046 participants) with two adolescent siblings (older siblings: Mage = 15.67 years, 51% female; younger siblings: Mage = 13.14 years, 48% female) and one parent (Mage = 45.15 years; 85% female) from five Midwestern U.S. states. Siblings reported on their own drinking and social disruption stress before and during the onset of the pandemic via online surveys. Accounting for younger siblings' earlier drinking and other confounders, older siblings' prepandemic drinking predicted a greater likelihood of younger siblings' drinking during the Spring 2020 pandemic shutdown. This association was not moderated by younger siblings' social disruption stress. The association between younger siblings' prepandemic drinking and older siblings' drinking during the shutdown was moderated by older siblings' social disruption stress. Specifically, younger siblings' earlier drinking was more strongly related to older siblings' drinking during the shutdown if older siblings reported more social disruption stress. Siblings are important socialization agents of alcohol use during adolescence. Sibling interventions may be particularly salient during times of stress and isolation when youths' social interactions with peers may be limited. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

The development of SIBS-ONLINE, a group-based video conference intervention for siblings of children with chronic disorders and their parents

ObjectiveDuring the last decade a knowledge-based group intervention called SIBS, aiming to prevent psychological difficulties in siblings of children with chronic disorders, has been developed and empirically evaluated. The results are promising, but SIBS has been difficult to implement in areas with low population density. To address the needs of low-density health regions a video conference-based version of SIBS, “SIBS-ONLINE”, was developed. MethodSIBS-ONLINE was developed in three phases: 1) Gaining experience by delivering five support groups for siblings during the Covid-19 pandemic over video conference; 2) Developing the SIBS-ONLINE intervention based on the experiences of Phase 1; 3) Pilot testing the SIBS-ONLINE intervention with four groups (14 families). ResultsThe end-product was SIBS-ONLINE, an intervention for siblings aged 10–16 years and their parents. SIBS-ONLINE consists of three separate sibling and parent groups and three joint sessions delivered over video conference. Intervention materials to enable delivery were developed, such as a manual comprising specification of communication techniques in video conference groups, technical advice, and a detailed description of sessions. ConclusionThe developmental process resulted in a feasible group-based video conference intervention for families of children with chronic health disorders. InnovationA unique group-based video conference intervention is described and general advice for developers and deliverers of future interventions provided.

Intervensi dan Dukungan terhadap Psikososial Sibling Anak dengan Penyakit Kronis

This study aims to examine in a structured way the research results related to sibling interventions and support programs for children with chronic illnesses and their effects on psychosocial siblings. The method used is a systematic review using six electronic databases: Clinical Key Nursing, Scopus, Science Direct, Sage Journal Taylor & Francis, PubMed, and hand-searched. The keywords used to search for relevant articles in this study were: (sibling OR brother OR sister) AND (chronic OR disability) AND (Intervention OR therapy) AND (psychosocial OR psychology OR social). The results showed that as many as five articles were obtained discussing different types of intervention and support, which positively affected sibling psychosocial conditions. In conclusion, sibling intervention and support can be done through communication, the interaction between siblings, support groups, and art and nature therapy. Sibling intervention and support can positively improve the psychosocial condition of sibling children with chronic illnesses.
 
 Keywords: Support, Intervention, Chronic Disease, Siblings, Siblings

The effectiveness of the serious game “Broodles” for siblings of children with intellectual disabilities and/or visual impairment: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundSiblings of children with disabilities also need support. However, there are only a few evidence-based interventions for these siblings. The current study aims to assess the effectiveness of a newly developed serious game for young siblings of children with intellectual disability (ID) and/or visual impairment (VI). This serious game is hypothesized to improve sibling’s quality of life, adjustment to their brother’s or sister’s disability, and multiple aspects of psychosocial well-being.MethodsThe intervention consists of a serious game called “Broodles” (in Dutch: “Broedels”) that helps children to recognize and deal with thoughts, feelings, and difficult situations. The game consists of eight 20-minute levels that all have the same structure with eight game elements. Each level addresses a domain of sibling quality of life and combines animations, mini-documentaries, fun mini-games, and multiple-choice questions. In addition to the game, siblings make a worksheet after playing each level. In order to support the child, the parents or caregivers receive a short brochure with information and tips. The effectiveness of the intervention will be investigated among a sample of 154 children aged 6–9 years and their parents or caregivers, using a two-arm parallel RCT design. The experimental group will play the serious game “Broodles” over a period of 4 weeks, whereas the control group will be placed on a waiting list. Assessments will take place at three time points: pre-test (week 1), post-test (week 5), and follow-up (weeks 12–14). At each timepoint, children and parents will complete several questionnaires on quality of life and different aspects of psychosocial well-being. In addition, children will make drawings to assess the sibling relationship. Next to that, parents and children will answer closed and open-ended questions about the sibling adjustment to their brother or sister’s disability. Finally, parents and children will evaluate the serious game through closed and open-ended questions.DiscussionThis study contributes to the knowledge about sibling interventions and serious games. Additionally, if the serious game is proven to be effective, it will be a readily available, easily accessible, and free of charge intervention for siblings.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05376007, registered prospectively on April 21, 2022.

Factors associated with mental health service use among families bereaved by pediatric cancer.

We identified types of interventions used by bereaved family members and examined associations with demographic and medical factors. Furthermore, we examined associations between distress and intervention use among bereaved families. Bereaved families (n = 85) were recruited from three children's hospitals 3-12 months after their child died of cancer. One eligible sibling (ages 8-17) per family was randomly selected for participation. During home visits 1-year post-death, parents reported on their own and the sibling's intervention use, helpfulness, and dose (self-help books, support groups, therapy, medication), and distress, defined as internalizing, externalizing, and total problems (Adult Self Report, Child Behavior Checklist). Fifty percent of mothers used medications (n = 43); utilization was low among fathers (17%, n = 9) and siblings (5%, n = 4). Individuals with more total problems were more likely to use medications (mothers: rpb = 0.27; p = 0.02; fathers: rpb = 0.32; p = 0.02; siblings: rpb = 0.26; p = 0.02). Mothers and siblings with more total problems used more services (r = 0.24; p = 0.03 and r = 0.29; p = 0.01, respectively). Among mothers, the overall regression was significant, R2 = 0.11, F(2, 80) = 4.954, p = 0.01; the deceased child's age at death was significantly associated with total services used (b = 0.052, p = 0.022). Among fathers, the overall regression was significant, R2 = 0.216, F(3, 49) = 4.492, p = 0.007; race and years of education were significantly associated with total services used (b = 0.750, p = 0.030 and b = 0.154, p = 0.010). Among siblings, the overall regression was significant R2 = 0.088, F(2, 80) = 3.867, p = 0.025; greater total problems were significantly associated with total services used (b = 0.012, p = 0.007). Although few background factors were related to intervention use, bereaved mothers and siblings may seek services if they have more distress. Healthcare providers should be aware of the types of services that are most often utilized and helpful to bereaved families to connect them with appropriate resources. Future research should investigate other predictors of intervention use and outcomes after the death of a child.

De glemte barna – en kartleggingsstudie av tilbud til og muligheter for pårørende søsken i norske kommuner

Background: Norwegian health professionals are obliged to provide support to siblings as next of kin. Preliminary evidence for positive outcomes of SIBS, a novel five-session intervention for siblings as next of kin, exists. This study aimed to investigate the extent and type of sibling support in the community health services. It also aimed to examine prospective acceptability for SIBS among community health workers. Methods: We asked public health nurses, psychologists, and chief physicians in Norwegian municipalities about sibling support and about their evaluations of SIBS. We conducted descriptive analyses and a qualitative analysis guided by Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Results: 332 respondents from 253 municipalities participated. Siblings were rarely systematically identified. School health services were common support providers, but mostly upon request from families. There was limited collaboration with the specialist health care or other services. Prospective acceptability for SIBS was high, but several barriers to implementation in community services were reported. Conclusion: Sibling support at the community level is deficient, and successful implementation of adequate interventions requires intralevel and interlevel collaboration. Keywords: siblings, children as next of kin, chronic disorders, disabilities, prevention, implementation

A Study on Trends and Qualitative Indicators Analysis of Sibling Intervention Research for Children with Disabilities

A Study on Trends and Qualitative Indicators Analysis of Sibling Intervention Research for Children with Disabilities

Parent-child communication about emotions during SIBS: a joint intervention for siblings and parents of children with chronic disorders

Quality of parent-child communication is associated with adjustment in siblings of children with chronic disorders. SIBS is an intervention aiming to increase parental listening, exploring, and validating behaviors while talking with siblings about their experiences. We examined parent-sibling communication during SIBS by describing: 1) Sibling-selected dialogue topics; 2) Parental responses to siblings’ emotional expressions, and 3) Associations between responses and demographics and parental psychological distress. Forty dialogues (M duration = 23 minutes) between siblings (10–16 years; Mage = 12.2 years; 52.5% boys) and one parent (62.5% mothers) were coded with the Verona Coding System for Emotional Sequences. Parents mostly provided space for further disclosure of siblings’ experiences (M = 66.9%). In average, 41.9% of parental responses were exploring, 16.4% were listening, and 8.5% were validating. Few associations between parental responses and background variables were found. Parental validation should be given more focus in further development and implementation of the SIBS intervention.

Multifaceted Support Interventions for Siblings of Children With Cancer

When a child is given a diagnosis of cancer, the impact reverberates through the family unit. Siblings, in particular, experience an accumulation of distress. Siblings of children with cancer can experience both short- and long-term difficulties in psychosocial and physical functioning, and professional bodies have called for interventions targeted at their needs. The aim of this study was to describe outcomes, core components, and general characteristics of effective interventions intended to support sibling well-being and psychosocial health in pediatric oncology. MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched in September 2019 and July 2020. Studies were included if they focused on interventions for siblings or family in pediatric cancer, had quantitative data to describe the effect or impact of the intervention, and were published in English. Included studies underwent quality appraisal, data extraction, and data synthesis. Twenty articles fit inclusion criteria. Most interventions focused on 6- to 18-year-old siblings within a group setting. Most were theory based. Group format with multiple sessions was the most common approach. The most frequently assessed outcomes were depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and health-related quality of life. Understanding outcomes, core components, and characteristics of effective interventions is important to translate sibling-support interventions into standard practice. Such considerations are important in delivering equitable family-centered care to siblings of children with cancer. As institutions create mechanisms to support siblings, it may be important to target high-risk siblings initially, partner with community resources, attend to underrecognized populations of siblings, and more fully incorporate family into sibling support.

Examination of the Effectiveness and Acceptability of a Play-Based Sibling Intervention for Children with Autism: A Single-Case Research Design.

Complementary and reciprocal interactions are a defining feature of sibling relationships for young children. However, the social and communication difficulties of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can make reciprocal play more difficult and play between siblings can be less rewarding. Sibling play can serve an important role in intervention and family cohesiveness, but there is no consistent method for involving siblings in intervention benefitting the sibling dyad. This study evaluated a novel treatment package including training siblings on play strategies to increase positive sibling play in combination with a sibling support group to offer social support for the neurotypical sibling (NT). The effects of the treatment package on NT sibling play and fidelity of implementation of naturalistic play strategies was examined using a concurrent multiple-baseline design across six dyads, five of whom completed the intervention. After behavior skills training, all NT siblings increased the number of strategies they used, and increased the frequency of initiations towards their sibling with ASD. In addition, the percentage of reciprocal play between siblings increased. Generalization probes and follow-up probes demonstrated above-baseline levels of performance across most dyads, indicating that the skills learned generalized across other toys and were maintained over time. Only three of the sibling support group sessions were completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the effectiveness of the sibling support group cannot be determined, social validity questionnaires suggest siblings and parents valued and liked the support group.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43494-021-00043-5.

Coronary risk reduction intervention for siblings and offspring of patients with premature coronary heart disease: the CRISO study protocol for a randomised controlled pilot study

BackgroundResearch has consistently demonstrated that preventive cardiology programs have limited success, and healthy practices among high-risk individuals remain suboptimal. Furthermore, there are no current programmes in Malta that offer support to first-degree relatives of patients with premature coronary heart disease. This internal pilot study will determine the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of a preventative intervention.Methods/designWe are conducting a 12-month single-centre, two-armed group randomised controlled trial (RCT), recruiting a sample of 100 asymptomatic first-degree relatives of patients with premature coronary heart disease (CHD). The study seeks to test an evidence-based intervention to reduce modifiable risk and determine its feasibility and acceptability. The Intervention will be delivered at an outpatient office based in a large acute academic hospital. It will comprise risk communication using an online risk calculator, a counselling style adapted from motivational interviewing, and 12 weekly telephone goal reinforcement calls (3 months). Control subjects will receive verbal lifestyle advice only. Feasibility will be assessed through recruitment and retention. Qualitative evaluation interviews will be conducted with a subsample of 24 purposefully selected participants at 12 months. Assessment for risk factor changes will be measured at pre-intervention and 6 and 12 months. Associations between variables will also be assessed descriptively.DiscussionPreventive cardiology guidelines highlighted the importance of lifestyle interventions, and lifestyle intervention adherence was proven to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, regardless of the individual's genetic risk. Preventive cardiology programmes may fail to adequately support persons in modifying risky behaviours, and research demonstrates that healthy practices among high-risk individuals can remain suboptimal.Siblings and offspring of patients with premature CHD are at increased risk of ASCVD. Despite this, there is no process in place for routine screening and support to modify risk. It is hypothesised that participants assigned to the intervention arm will show more cardio-protective lifestyle-related improvement from the baseline than those in the control group. To date, this is the first trial being conducted amongst Maltese first-degree relatives. This study addresses the needed research, and the results will inform a definitive trial.The funding institution is the University of Malta.Trial registrationISRCTN, ISRCTN21559170; Registered 06/08/2020,

Psychosocial well-being and quality of life in siblings of children with congenital heart disease: A systematic review.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a major global health problem. Until recently, the siblings of this group did not receive much attention. This review, conducted from November 2019 to October 2020, aims to summarize knowledge about psychosocial well-being and quality of life (QoL), associated factors, and interventions for siblings of children with CHD. Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Web of Science via EBSCOhost, and CENTRAL. Twelve articles were included. Results showed that psychosocial well-being was impaired in 14% to 40% of siblings. Negative impact of illness was highest for CHD siblings compared to siblings of children with cancer, cystic fibrosis, or diabetes. QoL was impaired in up to one-third. Siblings of children with CHD and cancer rated their QoL lower than those of siblings of children with cystic fibrosis or type-1 diabetes. Associated factors were sibling age, gender, socioeconomic status, miscarriage, previous sibling death, visibility of illness, and severity of condition. Only one of two interventions focused on siblings of CHD children. Although data are scarce and inhomogeneous, it indicates that siblings of CHD children suffer from lower psychosocial well-being and QoL than siblings of children with other chronic conditions. Interventions to improve their situation should be developed.

Psychosocial interventions for siblings of children with cancer: A mixed methods systematic review.

This review systematically (1) describes the characteristics of psychosocial interventions for siblings of children with cancer (SCC); (2) assesses the effect of the psychosocial interventions on SCCs' outcomes, and (3) describes SCCs' experiences and perceptions of these interventions. Seven databases were systematically searched for relevant literature. We included both quantitative and qualitative studies of psychological interventions designed to improve the adjustment of SCCs. Our database searches yielded 19 publications. We found a range of psychosocial interventions being used among SCCs, with group interventions being the most common. The primary outcomes focused on the SCCs' depression, anxiety, and quality of life. Quantitative studies provided insufficient evidence to draw definitive conclusions about the interventions' effects, whereas the qualitative studies indicated that SCCs can derive benefits from these interventions, including an enhanced sense of belonging and bonding, improved family relationships, increased self-awareness and confidence, increased cancer knowledge, and decreased somatic symptoms. Although a growing number of psychosocial interventions have been developed to improve the adjustment of SCCs, research evidence of the effects of these interventions on SCCs' adjustment remains limited. Future research needs to rigorously evaluate the effects of these interventions.

Exploring mechanisms of change in a dyadic relationship intervention for siblings in foster care.

There is increasing recognition of the potential for sibling relationships to promote the well-being of youth in out-of-home care. Efficacious interventions now exist to strengthen the sibling relationships for youth in out-of-home care, yet the processes through which these interventions work to enhance sibling relationships remains largely speculative. The current study therefore aimed to identify the critical components of an efficacious dyadic relationship enhancement intervention for siblings in foster care through a secondary analysis of fidelity of implementation and trial outcome data. Data for 168 youth from the treatment condition of the Supporting Siblings in Foster Care study were analysed. Fidelity of implementation was assessed across seven intervention domains: Sibs 4 Life, Positive/Sib Thinking, Activity Planning, Problem Solving, Cooperation, Managing Feelings and Adult Allies. Trial outcome data were drawn from efficacy test results and included a multi-agent construct of sibling relationship quality. Descriptive statistics detailed intervention implementation, and hierarchical linear models examined associations between intervention coverage, comprehension, and engagement, and 18-month improvements to the sibling relationship. Results indicate high fidelity to implementation, and Positive/Sib Thinking was the primary intervention domain associated with sibling relationship improvements. Considerations for future mechanisms-based intervention research with siblings in out-of-home care are provided.

Psychosocial interventions for siblings of children with cancer: A mixed methods systematic review

Psychosocial interventions for siblings of children with cancer: A mixed methods systematic review

Manual-Based Group Intervention for Siblings and Parents of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Cambodia

Siblings of children with neurodevelopmental disorders (ND) are at increased risk of mental health problems. The burden on families of children with ND is exacerbated in low-income countries with limited health services and dependency on informal care systems. Yet, there is little research on family impacts of ND in non-Western settings, and no evidence-based interventions for siblings. We examined initial outcomes and feasibility of a manual-based intervention for siblings and parents of children with ND, called SIBS, delivered in Cambodia. SIBS has promising evidence from an open trial in Norway. We delivered eight groups for 52 siblings (M age = 12.7 years, SD = 2.7; 44.0% female) and 56 caregivers (M age = 43.5 years, SD = 8.5; 61.1% mothers) of 54 children with ND at the only public child mental health clinic in Cambodia. We aimed to improve sibling and parent mental health and family communication. The SIBS intervention comprises three separate sibling/parent group sessions and two joint sibling-parent dialogue sessions. Parent-reported mental health scores for siblings were higher than sibling self-report. Parent mental health problems at baseline were high, with no difference between mothers and fathers. There was significant improvement in parent mental health and parent-rated mental health for siblings from baseline to 4-month post-intervention (effect sizes d = 0.44 to 0.52). There was no change in sibling-reported mental health or family communication. Sibling- and parent-rated user satisfaction was high. We conclude that the SIBS intervention showed promise in Cambodia. However, revision of the communication component is needed.

Interventions for Siblings, Extended Family, and Community Members after Pediatric Death

The death of a child is felt by extended family, friends, and community members. Most bereavement care research focuses on programs for parents. Little is known about the efficacy of support programs for other grieving individuals. We conducted a scoping review of the literature describing the efficacy of bereavement support programs for siblings, extended family (other than parents), and community members after pediatric death. We found only four reports describing the efficacy of bereavement support programs for this population. All articles described benefits of the intervention studied. Overall, more rigorous and larger-scale studies are needed.

Group intervention for siblings and parents of children with chronic disorders (SIBS-RCT): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundSiblings and parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders are at risk of mental health problems and poorer family communication. Some group interventions for siblings exist, but few have clearly described parent components and none are considered evidence-based.MethodsWe are conducting a randomized controlled trial comparing a five-session manual-based group intervention for siblings (aged 8 to 16 years) and parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders to a 12-week waitlist, called SIBS-RCT. The intervention comprises three separate sibling and parent group sessions and two joint sessions in which each sibling talks to their parent alone. The intervention aims at improving parent-child communication and covers themes such as siblings’ understanding of the neurodevelopmental disorder, siblings’ emotions, and perceived family challenges. Participants are recruited through municipal and specialist health centers across Norway. The primary outcome is sibling mental health. Quality of life and family communication are secondary outcomes. Participants are block-randomized to the intervention or 12-week waitlist in groups of six. Measures are collected electronically at pre- and post-intervention/waitlist, as well as 3, 6, and 12 months post-intervention. The main effect to be examined is the difference between the intervention and waitlist at 12 weeks post. All outcomes will also be examined using growth curve analyses. We plan to include 288 siblings and their parents by the end of 2022.DiscussionSIBS-RCT represents a major contribution to the research and practice field towards establishing an evidence-based intervention for siblings. In the event that intervention and waitlist are no different, the impact of SIBS-RCT is still substantial in that we will aim to identify participant subgroups that show positive response and effective components of the SIBS manual by examining group leader adherence as an outcome predictor. This will allow us to continue to re-engineer the SIBS manual iteratively to improve outcomes, and avoid the promotion of a less-than-optimal intervention.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04056884. Registered in August 2019

A Review of Siblings' Needs and Interventions Supporting Their Adaptation in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Many aspects may interfere with siblings' adaptation when an infant is born prematurely and hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). During this critical period, siblings may have sudden change of behaviors if their needs are not adequately met. Parents and neonatal nurses are often unaware of the importance of supporting siblings in the NICU. In this narrative review, siblings' needs and interventions to support them in the NICU will be synthesized and discussed. A total of 14 articles were reviewed to better understand siblings' needs and discuss findings related to interventions supporting siblings' adaptation in the NICU. Further studies should be conducted with validated and reliable evaluation tools to validate these findings. Overall, interventions for siblings in the NICU appear to be beneficial for siblings and their parents.