published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Seventeen well siblings of chronically mentally ill (CMI) individuals were studied to examine effects associated with having a CMI sibling and factors associated with variations in effects. The respondents were largely better-educated, white, middle class, and age 21 years or older, recruited through a local family support group, and an acute care mental health facility. A self-report questionnaire was developed for use in this study utilizing a Likert scale for standardization. Areas of focus were self-esteem, relationships, and emotional and financial burden. All areas except self-esteem showed some negative effects. The main concerns identified were a "Don't Talk" attitude about mental illness, active mourning, fear of having a CMI offspring, and future financial responsibility. Differences in effects were observed between groups by gender, birth-order, likeness (same sex/opposite sex), and proximity. Diagnosis and level of functioning also appeared to be associated with variations in effects.

Note: / The effects of disability on sibling well-being and sibling relationship quality wereevaluated. Particularly, two disabilities (Phelan-McDermid syndrome and attentionhyperactivity disorder) with significantly different functional implications were examined.Siblings completed measures on behavioural and emotional functioning, self-concept,and sibling relationship quality. For both disability groups, no positive or negative effectson sibling weIl-being were found when compared to siblings oftypicaIly developingchildren. Sibling relationship quality was different for aIl three groups of siblings. Whenthere was disability in the home, siblings reported less intimacy in their relationships.Siblings of children with Phelan-McDerrnid syndrome reported more mutual admiration,more power and less conflict in their relationships than siblings oftypically developingchildren. They also reported more warmth in their relationship than siblings of childrenwith attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The importance of understanding howdisability in the home can affect siblings is emphasized. / Les effets de troubles de santé sur le bien-être d'enfants de même famille et sur lesrelations entre frères et soeurs furent évalués. Particulièrement, deux syndromes, lesyndrome de Phelan-McDermid et le Trouble du Déficit de l'Attention avec ou sansHyperactivité (TDAH), qui ont implications pratiques significativement différentes furentexaminés. Les entants de même famille ont complété des questionnaires sur leurfonctionnement émotionnel et comportemental, leur concept de soi et la qualité de larelation avec leur frère ou leur soeur. Pour les deux groupes d'enfants avec un frère ouune soeur atteinte d'un trouble quelconque, aucun effet positif ou négatif sur le bien-êtrefut découvert comparativement aux enfants de familles typiques. Toutefois, la qualité desrelations entre enfants de même famille était différente dans les trois groupes. Quand l'undes enfants était atteint d'un trouble, moins d'intimité était rapportée dans la relationentre frères et soeurs. Les frères et soeurs d'enfants atteints du syndrome de PhelanMcDermidont déclaré qu'ils éprouvaient plus d'admiration, plus de pouvoir et moins deconflits entre eux que chez des enfants de familles typiques. Ils ont aussi exprimé plus detendresse dans leur relation que dans les familles d'enfants avec un TDAH. Cet ouvragesouligne également l'importance de comprendre comment les problèmes de santé d'unenfant peuvent affecter les autres enfants de leur famille.11

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1991. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [104]-111) / Microfiche. / vii, 111 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

Thesis (M.A.)--Baylor University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p.31-36).

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, 2003. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Mar. 27, 2005). Includes bibliographical reference (p. 92-96).

The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on March 26, 2010). Thesis advisor: Dr. Wendy L. Sims. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 41-50). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oklahoma, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 116-129).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2000. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 121 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-77).