In the present study, a grounded theory approach was employed with the purpose of developing a substantive theoretical model to identify and illustrate changes in sibling relationships after pediatric bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Further investigation of the impact of sibling relationship quality on children's adaptation following this life-threatening medical procedure was examined. Two families, each consisting of a sibling dyad that included a child who received a BMT and a well sibling that ranged in age from 10-14 and a parent, participated in the study. Siblings were interviewed individually, and in the dyad, to capture an insider's view of the sibling relationship after BMT and factors that impact child adaptation to pediatric BMT. Child observational and parent survey data provided a multiple-informant and multiple-method approach which helped to foster a more complete picture of the broader family context. Findings suggest that children's sibling relationships improved after BMT, as evidenced by their building a close relationship, establishing intimacy and gaining trust, and learning to get along and settle differences better. Positive coping strategies included identifying and utilizing supports and resources, praying/prayer, making life easier for the sibling, and redefining what is important in life. Children's individual adaptation outcomes included accepting the illness, recognizing the longevity of the relationship, reducing worry/stress, and moving beyond the illness. Analyses that were grounded in the data from the present study suggest four theoretical propositions. First,children's sibling relationships have the potential for positive change after BMT. Second, close sibling relationships can serve as a buffer, or protective factor, to the adverse conditions and extremely stressful situations encountered after BMT. Third, positive changes in children's sibling relationships after BMT can positively influence children's coping strategies which may have a direct influence on children's adaptation to BMT. The fourth, and primary hypothesis, suggests that positive changes in children's sibling relationships after BMT potentiate new coping strategies in the dyad that are more facilitative to child adaptation than managing stress on one's own. Findings add to the general knowledge on sibling relationships and shed light on the complexities of children's sibling relationships when one child is severely ill.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1991.

The main goal of the thesis was to detect and subsequently present a comprehensive views of educational society and parents for the current issue of school preparedness and its related issues concerning the high number of school attendance delay. To obtain these views was used a method of semi-structured interviews with parents, teachers from preparatory classes and teachers from nursery and primary schools. When analysis of testimony was finished, has been used and also elected procedure confrontation between these dates, then confrontation with professional publications, articles, web discussion forums and also primary data which was find out at conference that was organized on this topic. After the research was found that the issue of school preparedness affects to other issues like: an education and qualification of nursery teachers, the quality of cooperation between school and family, problems of capacity classrooms in nursery and solving number of children and age composition of class, accountability for school readiness child etc. The results of this thesis indicate what opinions have the family and educational public on the current status of the school preparedness disadvantages of children and also parts of school preparedness, in which today's children mainly excel. The main contribution...