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Siblings of children with life-limiting conditions : psychological adjustment and sibling relationships
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Fullerton, Joanne, Totsika, Vasiliki, Hain, Richard and Hastings, Richard P. (2017) Siblings of children with life-limiting conditions : psychological adjustment and sibling relationships. Child : Care, Health and Development, 43 (3). pp. 393-400. doi:10.1111/cch.12421
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Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12421
Abstract
Background
This study explored psychological adjustment and sibling relationships of siblings of children with life-limiting conditions (LLCs), expanding on previous research by defining LLCs using a systematic classification of these conditions.
Methods
Thirty-nine siblings participated, aged 3–16 years. Parents completed measures of siblings' emotional and behavioural difficulties, quality of life, sibling relationships and impact on families and siblings. Sibling and family adjustment and relationships were compared with population norms, where available, and to a matched comparison group of siblings of children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), as a comparable ‘high risk’ group.
Results
LLC siblings presented significantly higher levels of emotional and behavioural difficulties, and lower quality of life than population norms. Their difficulties were at levels comparable to siblings of children with ASD. A wider impact on the family was confirmed. Family socio-economic position, time since diagnosis, employment and accessing hospice care were factors associated with better psychological adjustment.
Conclusions
Using a systematic classification of LLCs, the study supported earlier findings of increased levels of psychological difficulties in siblings of children with a LLC. The evidence is (i) highlighting the need to provide support to these siblings and their families, and (ii) that intervention approaches could be drawn from the ASD field.
| Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman | ||||||||
| Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and Research (CEDAR) | ||||||||
| Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Brothers and sisters of people with disabilities -- Psychological aspects | ||||||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | Child : Care, Health and Development | ||||||||
| Publisher: | Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. | ||||||||
| ISSN: | 1365-2214 | ||||||||
| Official Date: | May 2017 | ||||||||
| Dates: |
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| Volume: | 43 | ||||||||
| Number: | 3 | ||||||||
| Page Range: | pp. 393-400 | ||||||||
| DOI: | 10.1111/cch.12421 | ||||||||
| Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||||
| Publication Status: | Published | ||||||||
| Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||||||
| Funder: | Bangor University. North Wales Clinical Psychology Programme |
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