The family roles of siblings of people diagnosed with a mental disorder: Heroes and lost children

Abstract

In order to cope with the diagnosis of mental illness in a family member, siblings may be forced to adjust their roles in the family. Taking into account the crucial role that some siblings play in caregiving for the mentally ill especially when the parents are no longer available, it is imperative to develop awareness of their unique needs and address them. Thirty-three adult siblings of people diagnosed with a mental disorder completed the Role Behaviour Inventory (RBI) and a general questionnaire including open-ended questions regarding the roles they played in their families of origin. Findings from the inventory and general questionnaire suggest that the well siblings score higher on two roles, the Hero and Lost Child, and lower on the Mascot and Scapegoat roles relative to a comparison group (N = 33). Being a sibling caregiver emerged as a risk factor to assume certain dysfunctional roles in the family. Implications for future research and therapy are discussed.

Health condition and familial factors associated with health-related quality of life in adolescents with congenital heart disease: a cross sectional study

“…This study also found the presence of siblings was positively associated with the HRQOL of adolescents with CHD. This finding is consistent with the study for the siblings of people diagnosed with a mental disorder that showed siblings mature faster and support their family [ 24 ]. Siblings played a significant role as emotional support and advocates [ 25 ] thus, siblings could facilitate adaptation and enhance the resilience of adolescents with disease [ 25 ].…”

Siblings of Individuals With Eating Disorders: A Review of the Literature

“…Studies in this review also found that non-ED siblings' position and role in the family may change on account of the disorder. The common roles described in this review are similar to those reported by studies concerning other psychopathologies, including serving as "go-betweens," or mediators, between diagnosed siblings and parents, and playing a supporting role for parents (49). In addition, non-ED siblings often carry the role of "the healthy child" in the family, frequently emphasizing their achievements, and concealing their struggles.…”

“…Non-diagnosed siblings in such families describe feelings of grief over the loss of the relationships they had with their siblings before the psychopathology onset (58), and experience similar degrees of grief as parents do (59). Changes in the relationships with parents are also common among siblings, and similarly to siblings in the reviewed studies, many report feeling that due to their parents' preoccupation with the diagnosed sibling, they themselves receive less parental attention, and feel invisible, abandoned, or forgotten by their families (49,60).…”

“…They also reported parents saw them as a source of help and knowledge and consulted them about the disorder (31). A third common role non-ED siblings assumed is that of "the healthy child," emphasizing their achievements and coping, and hiding their difficulties (49). Non-ED siblings reported deliberately concealing their own needs, worries, and distress from their parents in an effort to avoid burdening them (25,31,32,39).…”

Just Like Any Other Family? Everyday Life Experiences of Mothers of Adults with Severe Mental Illness in Sweden

“…Many studies have described how SMI affects family life and transforms the parental role (Austin and Carpenter 2008;Johansson et al 2010;Milliken 2001;Milliken and Nortcott 2003;Nyström and Svensson 2004;Sanders et al 2014;Veltman et al 2002). In most cases, the transformed parental role is negatively conceptualised and described as a lifelong burden characterised by shame, guilt and humiliation (Grey et al 2010;Larsen and Corrigan 2008;Van der Sanden et al 2013).…”