Siblings of Children with Mental Retardation Living at Home or in Residential Placement

Abstract

Severe retardation in a child surely has an effect on all family members. Studies of non-disabled siblings in these families have indicated both emotional risks and perceived benefits. Little is known about how out-of-home placement of the child with retardation affects the siblings. Adolescent siblings of children with retardation living at home (N = 25) or in residential placement (N = 20) were contrasted with siblings of children without retardation (N = 28), on measures obtained from their mothers and themselves. Despite their different situations, these siblings were highly similar on measures of psychological adjustment, self-esteem, and family environment. Sibling relationships, however, were less intense, with less warmth but also lower conflict, in families where the child lived out of the home. Most siblings of children with retardation reported positive personal growth experiences while also expressing realistic concerns about the future. Siblings of children with retardation had beliefs and attitudes about placement that were highly consistent with the child's current living situation.

Longitudinal Relationships Between Sibling Behavioral Adjustment and Behavior Problems of Children with Developmental Disabilities

“…In previous research, factors that increase or decrease sibling problems have been explored (e.g., sibling sex, match between the sex of the two children, whether the sibling is younger or older than the child with a disability, the age of the sibling, and whether the child with disability resides in the home or is placed outside of the family). These static risk variables typically explain little variance in sibling adjustment (Eisenberg, Baker, & Blacher, 1998;Gold, 1993;Hannah & Midlarsky, 1999;Mates, 1990;McHale, Sloan, & Simeonsson, 1986;Roeyers & Mycke, 1995). Within the present study, these static variables also failed to explain variance in sibling behavioral adjustment.…”

The impact of having a sibling with an intellectual disability: parental perspectives in two disorders

“…Therefore, the information represents parental observations rather than the actual sibling experience. Previous research has demonstrated that parents' perceptions may differ quite markedly from that of their children with parents perceiving disadvantages much more often than their children (Eisenberg et al. 1998; Guite et al.…”

Using a Life Course Approach to Explore How the Use of AAC Impacts on Adult Sibling Relationships

“…Some middle-aged adults with CP were separated from their non-disabled siblings in childhood, in order to access specialist support in congregate care settings. Blacher and colleagues (Baker & Blacher, 2002;Blacher, 1993;Eisenberg, Baker, & Blacher, 1998) described the potential for emotional distance to develop between siblings when one with a disability was institutionalized in childhood.…”