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

Abstract

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.

Stigma perspective of siblings of children with a major childhood burn injury

“…Two other studies of siblings of burn survivors described noninjured siblings as being shocked, feeling upset and sad, avoiding looking at the scars, and having concerns about the scars (Mancuso, Bishop, Blakeney, Robert, & Gaa, ; Phillips, Fussell, & Rumsey, ). The noninjured siblings reported people staring and teasing their brother or sister when they were in public.…”

Quality of Life of Young Adults Who Survived Pediatric Burns

“…1 Investigators have considered the impact of chronic illness on families, siblings, and caregivers as they redefine their roles and attempt to transition into normalcy. [2][3][4][5] Before quality of life measures were well developed and readily available, investigators used psychometric measures and interviews to identify psychopathology and infer psychosocial adjustment of burn survivors. Results indicated the majority of survivors achieved satisfactory outcome, but approximately one third of the sample reported difficulties with psychosocial adjustment.…”

"O impacto da queimadura e a experiência do familiar frente ao processo de hospitalização"

“…Na revisão de literatura sobre o tema, observa-se que há estudos relacionados com o impacto da queimadura sobre a família durante a internação de um de seus integrantes em Unidades de Queimados. Dentre esses estudos, alguns têm como foco principal o impacto do trauma pela queimadura e pelo processo de hospitalização sobre os pais de crianças que sofreram queimaduras (CAHNERS, 1979;CAHNERS;BERNSTEIN, 1979;LEDOUX et al, 1998;MANCUSO et al 2003;MEYER et al, 1994;RIZZONE et al, 1994;ROSSI, 2001;THOMPSON et al, 1999;VERITY, 1995;WATKINS et al, 1996). Na análise dos resultados e conclusões desses estudos, observou-se uma gama de comportamentos e sentimentos que são apresentados pelos pais de pacientes queimados frente ao trauma.…”

“…Rizzone et al (1994) afirmam que, a partir do trauma pela queimadura, as mães podem desenvolver a Síndrome do Estresse Pós-Traumático. Mancuso et al (2003) concluíram que os irmãos de crianças queimadas apresentam pior adaptação social em comparação com os irmãos de crianças não queimadas, havendo diferenças significativas conforme a gravidade da queimadura. Outros estudos tentaram buscar uma relação significativa entre o ajuste psicossocial da criança com queimadura e as características de sua família (LEDOUX et al, 1998;MEYER et al, 1994).…”

“…Quando o sistema familiar sofre um evento traumático que interrompe seu equilíbrio para lidar com tal situação podem ocorrer modificações no desempenho de papéis para compensar as mudanças na rotina familiar (MANCUSO et al, 2003). O próprio afastamento do paciente, além das mudanças nos papéis, leva à quebra das rotinas, sentimentos de isolamento, sentimentos de perda do controle, outros problemas, como cuidados com as crianças que estão em casa, outras doenças na família, perda de proventos, despesas extraordinárias para custeios de manutenção nas proximidades do hospital e/ou para custeios do tratamento (HALM, 1990).…”