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Dinç F, Kurt A, Güneş Şan E. Being a sibling of a child with intellectual disability from the perspective of mothers: A qualitative study. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES : JOID 2025; 29:371-386. [PMID: 39561159 DOI: 10.1177/17446295241301851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2024]
Abstract
This qualitative study was conducted to identify how being a sibling of a child with intellectual disabilities is defined for the child, its implications from the perspective of mothers. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews using a "Semi-structured interview form" between November 2023 and January 2024 with 14 mothers of children aged 12-18 who were studying in seven special education and rehabilitation centres in Türkiye. The semi-structured interview form included questions such as "Can you tell us about the relationship between your child with intellectual disability and his/her sibling?" Main themes and sub-themes were developed using thematic analysis. Four main themes were identified from the data through thematic analysis: (1) A special relationship (2) The need to be perfect (3) Guilt and shame (4) Restriction. The findings revealed both positive and negative aspects of being a sibling of children with intellectual disabilities from the mothers' perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Dinç
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Bartın University, Bartın, Turkey
| | - Aylin Kurt
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Bartın University, Bartın, Turkey
| | - Emine Güneş Şan
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Bartın University, Bartın, Turkey
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Lecciso F, Martis C, Antonioli G, Levante A. The impact of the reaction to diagnosis on sibling relationship: a study on parents and adult siblings of people with disabilities. Front Psychol 2025; 16:1551953. [PMID: 40417029 PMCID: PMC12101125 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1551953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2025] [Indexed: 05/27/2025] Open
Abstract
Objective Building on Bowlby's attachment theory and Marvin and Pianta's framework, the current study investigated the role of the resolution of the diagnosis as a potential protective factor in shaping the quality of affective sibling relationships. The study examined whether the typically developing (TD) siblings' resolution of the diagnosis of their brother/sister with a disability would predict the quality of their affective relationship in terms of closeness, conflict, jealousy, self-marginalization, and worry (HP1). The potential predictive role of parental resolution on typically developing sibling resolution has been investigated (HP2). In addition, we explored whether being an older vs. younger typically developing sibling would impact the resolution of the diagnosis and the quality of the affective sibling relationship. Methods A total of 365 parent-sibling dyads [parents: M age (SD) = 51.2 (6.95) years, age range = 25-64 years; mothers = 78.4%; TD siblings: M age (SD) = 23.2 (3.60) years, age range = 18-39 years; females = 53.7%] from families of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders or physical disabilities filled out the e-survey (CE n° 92,949/2,023). Results The results supported both hypotheses, highlighting the potential protective role of typically developing siblings' resolution of the diagnosis in fostering high-quality sibling relationships in terms of high closeness and low conflict, jealousy, self-marginalization, and worry. In addition, parental resolution of the diagnosis emerged as a potential predictor of typically developing siblings' resolution, supporting the intergenerational transmission of internal working models. Regarding the research question (RQ), younger typically developing siblings reported higher resolution scores than their older counterparts, suggesting that typically developing sibling birth order may shape the reaction to the diagnosis process. Conclusion The results underscored the importance of systemic interventions that devote attention not only to parental resolution but also to that of typically developing siblings. Future research should deepen the role played by socio-demographic factors and long-term outcomes on typically developing siblings' mental health and caregiving duties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Lecciso
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Salento, Via di Valesio, Lecce, Italy
- Lab of Applied Psychology, Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Salento, Via di Valesio, Lecce, Italy
| | - Chiara Martis
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Salento, Via di Valesio, Lecce, Italy
- Lab of Applied Psychology, Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Salento, Via di Valesio, Lecce, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Antonioli
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Salento, Via di Valesio, Lecce, Italy
| | - Annalisa Levante
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Salento, Via di Valesio, Lecce, Italy
- Lab of Applied Psychology, Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Salento, Via di Valesio, Lecce, Italy
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Sarikaya Şeker P, Öztürk Şahin Ö. The impact of disability awareness education program for typically developing children on attitudes and behaviors toward siblings with intellectual disabilities. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES : JOID 2024:17446295241276282. [PMID: 39151173 DOI: 10.1177/17446295241276282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2024]
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the impact of the "Disability Awareness Education Program" implemented for typically developing children with siblings who have intellectual disabilities on the attitudes and behaviors of these children. This study is divided into two stages. The first stage is descriptive, while the second is a quasi-experimental study consisting of pre-, post-intervention, and control groups. The study was carried out on the parents and typically developing siblings of children with intellectual disabilities studying in Special Educational Institutions in a province of Turkey. In the first phase, it was determined that 31 of 913 intellectually disabled children had siblings with typically developing aged 13-15. In the second phase, the education program was applied to typically developing siblings in the intervention group. It was concluded that the education program applied to typically developing children had a positive impact on their attitudes and behaviors toward their siblings with intellectual disabilities.
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Sousa D, Ferreira A, Sequeira J, Monteiro MJ, Simões M, Castelo-Branco M. Brief report: caregivers' well-being in families with neurodevelopmental disorders members during COVID-19: implications for family therapy. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1409294. [PMID: 39156606 PMCID: PMC11327121 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1409294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders affect the lifespan of diagnosed individuals and their families. COVID-19 challenged these families with daily routine unpredictability requiring rapid adaptations. Moreover, associations and schools were closed, leaving these families without regular social support. Here, we investigate which individual and family factors can predict the caregiver's depressive state and overall burden. An online study took place between 2021 and 2022. A total of 32 caregivers (30 women; 48 ± 8.22 years old; range 26 to 63 years old) reported having a family member with a neurodevelopmental disorder, the majority diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Caregivers responded to a protocol to assess the burden, resilience, depressive, anxious, and stress symptomatology, as well as the behavior of the diagnosed individual. Hierarchical multiple regressions were performed to identify protective and risk factors for the caregivers' well-being. Caregivers' depressive state was explained by 29.3% of the variance of the family cohesion factor, indicating that high levels of balanced family cohesion represent a crucial protective factor for reducing the caregiver's depressive state. Additionally, overall caregiver burden was explained by 17.8% of the variance due to self-perception and 26.4% due to family cohesion, with the caregiver's self-perception playing an important protective role in the overall perception of burden. The proportion of male and female respondents seems to corroborate the significant role of women in caregiving. These results emphasize the importance of considering both individual and family factors of caregivers during interventions, which have implications for family therapy with families of members diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders, specifically with autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Sousa
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Instituto Superior Miguel Torga (ISMT), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Ferreira
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Joana Sequeira
- Instituto Superior Miguel Torga (ISMT), Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Marco Simões
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Centre for Informatics and Systems (CISUC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel Castelo-Branco
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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Nnamchi O, Okafor S, Adubi P, Kalu S, Ikem O. Family Relationship and Attitude towards Children with Disability among Households with Children living with Disability in Southeast Nigeria: Implication to Sustainable Development. TÜRK PSIKOLOJIK DANIŞMA VE REHBERLIK DERGISI 2024; 14:228-240. [DOI: 10.17066/tpdrd.1340703_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2025]
Abstract
Disability has come to stay with humanity and now placing demand on our technological, scientific, spirituality and humanitarian management prowess and capability in adapting and managing it as global community. However, there are different levels and contexts at which people living with disability are highlighted and practically require our cooperation and assistance, which included family setting. In sub-Saharan Africa and other developing nations, families with children living with disability have found it a difficult task to meet the needs of these ones especially the children. This study investigated the relationship challenges faced by children living with disability among their siblings in southeast Nigeria among households with children living with disability. The study applied cross-sectional survey design; one hundred and eighteen (118) adolescent participants that have at least one sibling with any form of physical disability took part in the study, while attitude towards disabled sibling scale developed by the researchers using some adaptations from the Attitude Scale of Parents towards their mentally retarded children (Govender, 2002). A 2 x 3 x 2 Analysis of Variance (Three-way ANOVA) technique from unequal sample size was used to analyze the data. According to the major findings, there is significant interaction of birth order and Parental level of Education (PLoE) on attitude of siblings towards their physically disabled brother/sister, F(1,108)=7.568, p
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Nguyen L, Jack SM, Davis H, Bellefeuille S, Arafeh D, Di Rezze B, Ketelaar M, Gorter JW. Being a sibling of a youth with a neurodisability: A qualitative study about the roles and responsibilities during the transition to adulthood. Child Care Health Dev 2024; 50:e13241. [PMID: 38445673 DOI: 10.1111/cch.13241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the transition to adulthood, a common challenge that youth with a neurodisability may experience is learning how to navigate services in the adult care system. During this transition youth may rely on their families, including siblings, for support. However, delineation of sibling roles and responsibilities during this transition period are unclear. This study aims to identify the roles and responsibilities that siblings perceive to have with their sibling with a neurodisability during the transition to adulthood, and describe the decision-making process of how siblings chose these roles. METHODS In this descriptive qualitative case study, siblings were eligible to participate if they were between 14 to 40 years old, had a sibling between 14 to 21 years with a childhood-onset neurodisability and spoke English. Semi-structured interviews augmented by techniques of photo elicitation and relational maps were conducted. Reflexive thematic analysis was applied to identify sibling roles, as well as the emotional and decision-making process associated with these roles. Our team partnered with siblings with lived experience in all study phases. RESULTS Nineteen participants (median age = 19 years, range = 14 to 33 years) from 16 unique families were interviewed. Six unique roles were described: friend, role model/mentor, protector, advocate, supporter, or caregiver. The emotions that siblings experienced with each role, also known as emotional responsibility, were categorized into levels of low, medium or high. Siblings also described a four-phase decision-making process for their roles: (1) acquiring knowledge; (2) preparing plans; (3) making adjustments; and (4) seeking support. Intrapersonal characteristics, including personal identity, values and experiences, influenced roles assumed by siblings. CONCLUSIONS Siblings identified needing support as they process their decisions and emotional responsibility in their roles when their sibling with a neurodisability is transitioning to adulthood. Resources should be developed or further enhanced to support siblings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Nguyen
- School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Susan M Jack
- School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Offord Centre for Child Studies, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hanae Davis
- Sibling Youth Advisory Council, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Dana Arafeh
- Sibling Youth Advisory Council, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Briano Di Rezze
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marjolijn Ketelaar
- CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Centre of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht and De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Willem Gorter
- School of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Centre of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht and De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University and McMaster Children's Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Williams CA, Thompson PA, Hayden NK, Hastings RP. Sibling Relationship and Behavioral Adjustment in Families of Disabled Children: Cross-Lagged Associations. AMERICAN JOURNAL ON INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2024; 129:73-85. [PMID: 38147889 DOI: 10.1352/1944-7558-129.1.73] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Cross-lagged panel designs were used to examine longitudinal and potential (bi)directional relationships between primary caregiver reported sibling relationship quality and the behaviors of children with intellectual disability (n = 297) and their closest in age siblings. The behavioral and emotional problems of the child with intellectual disability positively predicted sibling conflict over time. When accounting for control variables, this relationship was no longer present. Sibling warmth positively predicted the prosocial behaviors of the child with intellectual disability over time. When accounting for control variables, both sibling warmth and sibling conflict positively predicted the prosocial behaviors of the child with intellectual disability over time. Future research directions and clinical implications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin A Williams
- Caitlin A. Williams and Paul A. Thompson, Centre for Research in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (CIDD), University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Paul A Thompson
- Caitlin A. Williams and Paul A. Thompson, Centre for Research in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (CIDD), University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Nikita K Hayden
- Nikita K. Hayden, Centre for Research in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (CIDD), University of Warwick, Coventry, and School of Education and iHuman, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Richard P Hastings
- Richard P. Hastings, Centre for Research in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (CIDD), University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
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