ERIC Number: EJ1388115
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1366-8250
EISSN: EISSN-1469-9532
Psychological Adjustment of Siblings of Children with Prader-Willi Syndrome
Bennett Murphy, Laura; Thornton, Jane; Thornton, Emma
Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, v48 n2 p196-205 2023
Background: Siblings of children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) may be at elevated risk for poor psychological adjustment (Mazaheri, M. M., Rae-Seebach, R. D., Preston, H. E., Schmidt, M., Kountz-Edwards, S., Field, N., Cassidy, S., Packman, Wet al. (2013). The impact of Prader-Willi syndrome on the family's quality of life and caregiving, and the unaffected siblings' psychosocial adjustment. "Journal of Intellectual Disability Research," 57(9), 861-873. ; O'Neill, L. P., & Murray, L. E. (2016). Anxiety and depression symptomatology in adult siblings of individuals with different developmental disability diagnoses. "Research in Developmental Disabilities," 51, 116-125. ). The current study describes psychological distress and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in non-disabled siblings. Method: Fifty-eight siblings and 86 parents participated. Results: Parents reported that almost 40% of siblings had psychological symptoms that exceeded clinical cut-off scores; 58.9% of siblings reported symptoms of PTSD that exceeded diagnostic cut-off scores. Symptoms were significantly related to family organisation and control per parent report and negative affect per sibling report. Conclusion: Growing up with a sibling with PWS may challenge adaptive resources of non-disabled siblings, leaving them vulnerable to psychological distress. Those who care for children with PWS are in a unique position to educate families about the potential vulnerability of non-disabled siblings. We encourage routine screening and support for affected family members, especially siblings.
Descriptors: Siblings, Genetic Disorders, Disabilities, Children, Adjustment (to Environment), Psychological Patterns, Anxiety, Depression (Psychology), Quality of Life, Family Environment, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Family Characteristics, Well Being
Taylor & Francis. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living (ACL)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Positive and Negative Affect Schedule; Family Environment Scale
Grant or Contract Numbers: 1901UTSCDD02