Publication year
2016
Citation Title
Correlates of sibling relationship quality and caregiving reception of adults with disabilities.
Journal Name
Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities
Journal Volume
28
Issue Number
5
Page Numbers
735-750
DOI
10.1007/s10882-016-9505-1
Summary
With sibling relationships being the longest-lasting familial relationship, this study examined whether individuals with disabilities reported the same relationship quality and caregiving as siblings without disabilities. Participants from all over the U.S., who had a range of disabilities, were recruited to participate and complete a web-based survey. Overall relationship quality and caregiving from the non-disabled sibling varied depending upon several individual level factors.
Key Findings
Participants who contacted their siblings more frequently and did not have mental health diagnoses were more likely to report closer sibling relationships.
Regarding caregiving, participants who were in greater contact with their siblings, had fathers in excellent or good health, were male, and had more siblings were more likely to receive caregiving from their siblings.
Participants reported weaker sibling relationships when they had a mental health diagnosis.
Implications for Military Professionals
Collaborate with organizations connected with military parents with children with disabilities to emphasize the importance of using outside support resources
Facilitate support groups for military families with family members with disabilities to increase the kinship among those families
Implications for Program Leaders
Educate military families with individuals with disabilities and a mental health diagnosis on the impacts to other siblings
Provide workshops to help military families with family members with disabilities learn about available supportive services to handle caregiving responsibilities
Implications for Policy Makers
Support programs that provide services for members of military families who have disabilities
Recommend professional development courses for community providers to educate them about supporting military families with family members with disabilities
Methods
Participants were recruited through e-mails and flyers to local, state, and national parent support groups and organizations that support families and individuals living with disabilities.
Participants were asked about the quality of their relationship with their sibling, mental and physical health as well as the health of their parents, and about caregiving they may receive.
Analysis looked at individuals with disabilities perspectives on their sibling relationships and caregiving.
Participants
One-hundred and six individuals with varying types of disabilities responded to a national web-based survey.
Most participants were unmarried (72%) and primarily identified as White (82%).
Participants represented 30 of the 50 states in addition to Puerto Rico. More than half (52%) of the participants reported having physical disabilities, 31% physical health conditions, and 27% mental health disabilities.
Limitations
Individuals with limited access to the internet may not be proportionately represented in this study; therefore, results should be interpreted within these parameters.
This study was based on a sample that was not representative of individuals living with a disability in the U.S.; thus, the generalizability of the results, especially with respect to individuals with intellectual disability, may be limited.
Participants with more extensive support needs may have been unable to access or complete this survey, which could have biased the findings of this study.
Avenues for Future Research
Examine the perspectives of individuals with disabilities about the types of supports needed from their siblings along with the barriers and facilitators to receiving such support
Explore whether the same correlates exist across samples of individuals with different types of disabilities
Investigate methodologies that facilitate individuals with disabilities to more fully participate in quantitative (e.g., survey) studies
Focus
Civilian
Target Population
Population Focus
Abstract
Siblings of individuals with disabilities report close relationships with and a greater likelihood of caregiving for their brothers and sisters with disabilities. However, most research has only relied on siblings without disabilities excluding individuals with disabilities. In this study, we sought to determine the correlates of close sibling relationships and the likelihood of caregiving as reported by individuals with disabilities. To this end, 106 individuals with disabilities responded to a web-based survey. With respect to the sibling relationship, participants who contacted their siblings more frequently and did not have mental health diagnoses were more likely to report closer sibling relationships. Regarding caregiving, participants who were in greater contact with their siblings, had fathers in excellent or good health, were male, and had more siblings were more likely to receive caregiving from their siblings. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.
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