Psychosocial Adjustment Of Siblings Research Articles

A Scoping Review of Psychosocial Adjustment in Siblings of Children with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

A Scoping Review of Psychosocial Adjustment in Siblings of Children with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Perceived parental differential treatment, cognition, behaviour and family cohesiveness among siblings of children with cerebral palsy? A family-mediated intervention to understand “displaced” children

AbstractThe present study adopts a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the impact of perceived parental differential treatment towards 30 non-disabled siblings of children with cerebral palsy 7–10 years of age. Standardised inventories such as, the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test (SBIT), the Connors Parent Rating Scale-Revised (CPRS) and the Draw-a-Family test were used pre and post intervention. Scheduled interviews were used for parents and children to obtain information regarding family cohesiveness. A special program was designed to structure the home environment and to maximise parental involvement that catered to the “needy child” and this was implemented for 6 months after which the children were reassessed. Prior to the intervention, we observed deficits in cognitive skills and siblings had concerns in hyperactivity and oppositional behaviour. Scheduled interviews with siblings elicited responses that represented neglect, perceived differential treatment and negative emotional well-being. Projective tests revealed that family dynamics were disturbed and chaotic. Post intervention, we observed significant differences in the cognitive orientation, behavioural engagement and also in the interpersonal relationship within the family. We may conclude therefore, that parental involvement significantly predicts academic and psychosocial adjustment of siblings and this is an important implication for practitioners in developing early intervention programs.

Applied Behavior Analysis Programs for Autism: Sibling Psychosocial Adjustment During and Following Intervention Use

Psychosocial adjustment in siblings of children with autism whose families were using a home-based, applied behavior analysis (ABA) program was compared to that of siblings in families who were not using any intensive autism intervention. Data gathered from parents, siblings and teachers indicated that siblings in ABA families experienced neither significant drawbacks nor benefits in terms of their behavioral adjustment, sibling relationship quality and self-concept compared to control group siblings, either during or following intervention use. Parents and siblings perceived improvements in sibling interaction since the outset of ABA, with parents somewhat more positive in their views than were siblings. Social support was associated with better sibling outcomes in all groups. Implications for supporting families using ABA are considered.

The mediating effects of family functioning on psychosocial outcomes in healthy siblings of children with sickle cell disease

Children with siblings coping with chronic illness experience stresses and disruptions in daily life as families work together to care for the affected child. Research suggests that children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) may be at risk for adjustment problems, impaired psychosocial functioning, and reduced quality of life. These potential stressors affect the child with SCD as well as their caregivers and other family members. This study examined the role of family functioning on the psychosocial functioning of healthy siblings of children with SCD. Participants were 65 healthy African-American siblings of children with SCD with a mean age of 11.19 years (range: 7-16) and their primary caregiver. Caregivers completed questionnaires assessing family functioning and child adjustment including demographic surveys, the Family Relations Scale (FRS), and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Increased number of emergency room visits (β = -0.28, P < 0.05) predicted poor psychosocial adjustment in siblings. Family functioning mediated this effect (β = 0.27; P < 0.05). High levels of family expressiveness (total score, r = -0.34; P < 0.01), support (total score, r = -0.54; P = 0.001), and low levels of family conflict (total score, r = 0.41; P < 0.001) were associated with improved adjustment among healthy siblings of children with SCD. Awareness of the possible negative psychosocial outcomes of living with a sister or a brother with SCD is important for clinicians. In particular, interventions that focus on family expressiveness, support, and conflict are indicated for this population.

Psychosocial adjustment in siblings of young people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive, impairing, life-limiting disorder of childhood. Little is known about how siblings adapt to this. The aim of this study is to document psychosocial adjustment in siblings of patients with DMD. Healthy siblings (11–18 years old) of young people with DMD attending a specialist paediatric centre and their parent/main carer took part. Parents, siblings and teachers completed a battery of questionnaires: (i) to assess psychiatric risk the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); (ii) to measure general wellbeing: SF-36; (iii) to document DMD illness disability: Functional Disability Inventory (FDI); (iv) to assess family function and life stresses for the unaffected sibling: Family Assessment Device (FAD), Family Burden Interview Schedule and Life Events Checklist. Forty six/77 eligible siblings (24 females/22 males); (mean age 14 years (SD 2.3)) took part. Although their mean psychological functioning and wellbeing questionnaire scores were comparable to normative data, there was a trend for more siblings scoring at high-risk for psychological (mainly emotional) problems. Weak/moderate associations with psychological symptoms in siblings varied according to informant and included the following factors: closeness in age to the affected sibling; older sibling age; extent of wheelchair use, burden of illness on family interactions, and siblings reporting high impact of illness on their lives. Psychological symptoms were also associated with less sibling involvement in patient care, with broader psychosocial and family disadvantage and with life stresses. Siblings have an increased risk for emotional problems, which appears influenced by specific illness factors.

Coping and Family Functioning Predict Longitudinal Psychological Adaptation of Siblings of Childhood Cancer Patients

To assess associations of coping and family functioning with psychosocial adjustment in siblings of pediatric cancer patients at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months after diagnosis. Eighty-three siblings (ages 7-19 years) participated. Effects on anxiety, quality of life, behavioral-emotional problems, and emotional reactions to the illness were investigated. Data-analysis was performed with multilevel mixed modeling. Psychosocial functioning was impaired at 1 month but ameliorated over time. Adjustment problems were associated with high family adaptation and cohesion, older age, and female gender. Lower anxiety, insecurity, loneliness, and illness involvement were related to siblings' ability to remain optimistic. Insecurity and illness involvement were positively related to reliance on the medical specialist and a tendency to seek information about the illness. Siblings of pediatric cancer patients are most affected by the illness in the first months. Children at risk may be identified according to sibling age and gender and according to long-term family adaptation processes and sibling coping abilities.

Impact on the family: psychosocial adjustment of siblings of children who survive serious burns.

This study examined the psychosocial adjustment of 79 siblings of children suffering from burn injuries. Nonparametric statistics were used to compare psychosocial adjustment of the study group, as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist with an age-matched and gender-matched reference groups. Analyses found that the study group was better adjusted than the normative group on psychological dimensions; however, the study group fared worse than the normative group on overall competence, particularly social competence. Further analyses found significant differences in sibling adjustment as a function of the severity of the burn injury. The siblings of children with moderate burn injuries did significantly better on psychological adjustment than the normative group, and siblings of children with moderate and severe burn injuries did significantly poorer on social competence. Descriptive analysis of measures developed for the study for parent and sibling reports supported findings of the Child Behavior Checklist quantitative analysis and offered insight into reasons for findings. Results indicate that the burn injury to one child in a family significantly impacts the siblings of that child. The noninjured child may be strengthened in the process of adapting to the changes imposed on the family, but it is also possible that the sibling's growth in one dimension is at the cost of success in another dimension.

Impact on the Family: Psychosocial Adjustment of Siblings of Children Who Survive Serious Burns

Impact on the Family: Psychosocial Adjustment of Siblings of Children Who Survive Serious Burns

Psychosocial impact of pediatric BMT on siblings.

Although bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has become standard therapy for many life-threatening disorders of childhood, there is little research on the psychosocial impact of BMT on siblings of children undergoing BMT. Such siblings face issues common to any family with a chronic illness. However, the psychological impact on the family is intensified because two family members, usually children, are subjected to intrusive medical procedures. Investigators had earlier noted that sibling donors may be at risk for behavioral problems and anxiety, while nondonors may experience ambivalent feelings of disappointment and relief. It was suggested that psychosocial stages of BMT may parallel the medical transplant process, with high levels of stress experienced pre-BMT, during hospitalization, and post-discharge. Our own group has recently conducted more systematic investigations on the psychosocial effects of BMT on donor vs nondonor siblings of surviving pediatric BMT patients. We found that sibling donors showed significantly more anxiety, lower self-esteem, and more adaptive skills in school than nondonors. Nondonors, on the other hand, showed significantly more school problems. One third of the siblings in each group reported a moderate level of post-traumatic stress. Taken together, our research indicates that BMT affects the life of the child at home and at school and that post-traumatic stress symptomatology is a component of the psychological reaction in siblings. The psychosocial adjustment of siblings is a critical area of investigation in BMT populations. Parents need to know that the BMT process affects every member of the family system, and both parents and professionals need to direct more emotional support and attention to siblings. Studies are needed that focus on interventions designed to reduce levels of sibling psychosocial maladjustment. The psychosocial developmental model of post- traumatic stress disorder is a viable theoretical model that may be used to guide future research.

The Psychosocial Adjustment of Well Siblings of Chronically Ill Children

This exploratory study examined the psychosocial adjustment of 19 siblings of chronically ill children (termed well siblings) in comparison to 19 siblings of healthy children. Results indicated no differences between the psychosocial adjustment of siblings in each group. Results of within-sibling group correlations suggested that when well siblings experienced adjustment problems, some of their problems were related to family structure characteristics, child characteristics, and parenting. Nonetheless, few differences were found in children's psychosocial adjustment across sibling groups as a function of family structure characteristics, child characteristics, and parenting. Implications for identifying well siblings who may be in greatest need of psychosocial care as well as the goals of psychosocial care are discussed.

Psychosocial adjustment in siblings of children with chronic life-threatening illness: a research note.

The psychosocial functioning of 10 siblings of children with chronic life-threatening illness and their parents was compared with 10 healthy matched controls. The main differences found were in family relationships, with the index siblings expressing more negative emotion in relation to their fathers than controls, index mothers being less involved in social activities and index fathers being less involved with the extended family. No significant differences were found in any of the measures of depression, anxiety and self concept. Index siblings expressed a number of other concerns such as a fear of the break up of their family after the sick child died. The need for increased awareness of the welfare of healthy siblings as well as closer involvement of the fathers is discussed.