Science has shown that siblings to children with a disability are affected by the family situation. The siblings often let their own needs and requests come secondary to their family members. This study illustrates how different professionals, who keep in contact with families with a disabled child, works with its siblings. The purpose with this study was to see how professionals, working as administrators, counselors at the habilitation and kin supporters in the region of Kalmar, include siblings while working with the families. Representatives from the professionals have been interviewed with a semi structured interview manual. The result showed that professionals have various opinions how siblings are affected by the family situation. Mutually, none of the professionals meet the siblings to listen to their view, instead they listen to the parents for information. The children´s convention is therefore not lived up to by the organizations. Our result shows an absence of a child´s perspective in the professionals work with siblings to children with a disability.

Syftet med studien var att beskriva friska syskons upplevelser när deras bror eller syster drabbas av cancer som barn. Metoden var en beskrivande litteraturstudie som baserades på elva stycken vetenskapliga artiklar med kvalitativ ansats. Litteratursökningen utfördes i databaserna Cinahl och Medline (PubMed), därefter analyserades artiklarna och sammanställdes i kategorier. Resultatet visade att de friska syskonen behövde få vara delaktiga i sin sjuka broders eller systers omvårdnad. De upplevde ett behov av information om sjukdomen och stöd från omgivningen samtidigt som de upplevde olika känslor som ilska, oro, avundsjuka etc. när deras bror eller syster drabbades av cancer. De friska syskonen upplevde även att relationen till föräldrarna och den sjuka brodern eller systern påverkades av sjukdomen, därför var det vikigt för dem att inte bli separerade från sin familj. Slutsatsen var att friska syskon hade olika behov av information, stöd och delaktighet när deras bror eller syster drabbades av cancer. Friska syskons upplevelse är ett outforskat område varför det finns behov av ytterligare forskning där fokus ligger på gruppen friska syskonen. Detta skulle bidra till ökad kunskap hos sjuksköterskor vilket i sin tur skulle kunna användas till att guida det friska syskonet till att bemästra den svåra situationen. / The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of healthy siblings when their brother or sister gets affected by childhood cancer. The method being used was a describing literature study that was based upon 11 scientific articles with a qualitative approach. The literature search was performed in the databases Cinahl and Medline (PubMed). The articles were analyzed and compiled into categories. The result showed that the healthy siblings needed to be part of their ill brother’s or sister’s care. They experienced a need to get information about the illness and support from their family and friends all while they were experiencing different emotions like anger, concern, jealousy etc. when their brother or sister got affected by cancer. The healthy siblings also experienced that the relation towards the parents and the sick brother or sister was affected by the illness which made it very important not to get separated from their family. The conclusion was that healthy siblings had different needs of information, support and participation, when their brother or sister got affected by cancer. Healthy sibling’s experience is an unexplored area why there is a need for additional research where the focus is on the group of healthy siblings. This would contribute to an increased knowledge among nurses which in turn could be used to guide the healthy sibling to overcome the difficult situation.

Includes vita. / Title from PDF of title page. / Document formatted into pages; contains 104 pages. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. / ABSTRACT: We studied perceptions parental differential treatment as reported by parents and children in two different settings. Perceptions of differential affection and control were examined in healthy families and in families that include a child diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Parental differential treatment was assessed using questionnaires that measured perceptions of absolute parenting for children and their siblings. Difference scores were subsequently utilized to generate perceived parental differential treatment scores. Participants were 61 parents (half with healthy children, half with one child who has diabetes) and 62 children (half comprising sibling pairs unaffected by any medical problems, half including one child with Type 1 diabetes). Children within the sibling pairs were between 11 and 18 years of age and approximately two years apart, on average. / ABSTRACT: Parents were also asked about their children's emotional/behavioral adjustment and adherence to prescribed medical regimen (in the diabetes group), and their levels of parenting stress. Children were also administered measures regarding their emotional/behavioral adjustment, average adherence (in the diabetes group), and perceptions of deservedness of parental treatment perceived. No differences in strength of correlations between ratings of parental differential treatment and child adjustment iv were detected across groups. Significant differences, however, emerged with regard to type of perceived parental differential treatment that related to child adjustment scores across groups. Relationships were also detected between perceived parental differential treatment and ratings of adherence and measures of glycemic control in the diabetes group. / ABSTRACT: Perceived deservedness as rated by children, ratings of absolute parenting, and parenting stress were observed to moderate the relationship between ratings of parental differential treatment and child adjustment. Parental differential treatment scores predicted unique variance in reported child behavior problems above and beyond that predicted by absolute parenting measures. Differences in relationships across groups, the role of gender, and the importance of context and family in studying perceptions of parental differential treatment and child adjustment are discussed. / System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Abnormal connectivity of the intrinsic anticorrelated networks, the task-negative network (TNN) and task-positive network (TPN), is implicated in schizophrenia. Comparisons between schizophrenic patients and their unaffected siblings offer an opportunity to further understand illness susceptibility and pathophysiology. We hypothesized that schizophrenic patients would demonstrate hyperconnectivity in the intrinsic networks and that similar, but less pronounced, hyperconnectivity would be evident in the networks of the unaffected siblings. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance images were obtained from schizophrenic patients (n=25), their unaffected siblings (n=25), and healthy controls (n=25). The posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus (PCC/PCu) and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) were used as seed regions to identify the TNN and TPN. Interregional connectivity strengths were analyzed using overlapped intrinsic networks composed of regions common to the intrinsic networks of the three subject groups. In the TNN, schizophrenic patients alone demonstrated hyperconnectivity between the PCC/PCu and left inferior temporal gyrus and between the ventral medial prefrontal cortex and the right lateral parietal cortex. Both schizophrenic patients and their unaffected siblings showed increased connectivity in the TNN between the bilateral inferior temporal gyri. In the TPN, schizophrenic patients showed hyperconnectivity between the left DLPFC and right inferior frontal gyrus relative to unaffected siblings, though this trend only approached statistical significance in comparison to healthy controls. Resting-state hyperconnectivity of the intrinsic networks may underlie the pathophysiology of schizophrenia by disrupting network coordination. Similar, though milder, hyperconnectivity in unaffected siblings of schizophrenic patients may contribute to their cognitive deficits and increased risk to develop schizophrenia.

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.

This investigation examined the relations between children’s self-esteem and parent/child interaction. It also searched for a link between self-esteem and numbers of siblings, gender and working after school. 47 students from public schools in Guatemala City, Guatemala (age 10-14 years old) participated in this study (14 girls and 33 boys). Participants completed measures of Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and a questionnaire regarding Parent - Child Interactions. The study showed that there was a positive correlation in boys’ population between level of self-esteem and parent - child interaction, but a negative correlation for girls. A positive correlation in girls’ population was shown between self-esteem and number of siblings, a negative correlation was shown between self-esteem and working after school. However in boys’ population there was a positive correlation between self-esteem and working after school, and a negative correlation for siblings. There is also a skewed distribution in boys’ and girls’ answers, and no generalizations can be made because of too few respondents, therefore further studies in this area should be done

Utifrån mina tidigare erfarenheter inom barnpsykiatrin tänker jag att syskon till psykiskt sjuka barn och ungdomar varit en exkluderad grupp som inte fått sitt utrymme inom vården. Det är av stor vikt att deras tankar och känslor blir belysta för att hitta sätt att möta upp denna grupp. I hälso- och sjukvårdslagen betonas barns behov av information, råd och stöd. Studiens syfte var att undersöka ungdomars upplevelser av att leva med ett syskon som lider av ätstörning. Tre pojkar och två flickor i ålder 15-20 intervjuades i studien. Som analysmetod användes en kvalitativ innehållsanalys enligt Morse och Field. Denna studie bekräftar tidigare kunskap om syskons erfarenheter av att leva med ett syskon som lider av en ätstörning. Syskonen beskriver en oro för systern och brist på information om syskonets sjukdom och behandling. De påverkas negativt av konflikter vid måltider och flera syskon beskriver att de känner skam över systerns sjukdom. Den här studien visar också på att det fanns skillnader i hur pojkarna och flickorna upplevde sin systers sjukdom. Flickorna upplevdes mer känslomässigt drabbade. Flickorna beskrev att deras vardag blivit starkt påverkad av systerns sjukdom, medan pojkarna beskrev att deras vardagsliv med kompisar och aktiviteter inte påverkades i större utsträckning.Ett resultat som framkommer som något nytt och positivt i studien är att flera ungdomar framhåller att familjens rutiner vid maten blivit något bra för dem, sedan deras syster påbörjat sin ätstörningsbehandling. Flickorna förmedlar att de kommit sin syster mer nära och att de känner mer samhörighet nu än innan systern fick sin ätstörning. Om föräldrarna förmår att skapa en god struktur och ett öppet och stödjande samtalsklimat vid måltider så kan de negativa effekterna för familjen minskas och behandlingen skapa ett tillfälle för hela familjen att hitta bra rutiner för familjens måltider. / In my experience siblings of mentally ill children and adolescents have been an excluded group within health care. It is of great importance that their thoughts and feelings are expressed in order to find ways to meet up this group. The health care law emphasizes children´s need for information, advice and support. The study´s purpose was to examine adolescents’ experiences of living with a sibling suffering from an eating disorder. Three boys and two girls in the age 15-20 were interviewed in the study. The interviews were analyzed with a qualitative content analysis. This study confirms prior knowledge of adolescents’ experiences of living with a sibling who is suffering from an eating disorder. The adolescents are concerned about their siblings and lack information about their siblings’ illness and treatment progress. They are negatively affected by conflicts at mealtimes and several siblings are feeling shame about their siblings’ illness. There were differences in how brothers and sisters experienced their sisters´ disease. The girls seemed to be more emotionally affected. The girls described that their everyday life had been heavily influenced of their sisters´ illness, while the boys described that their everyday life with friends and activities weren´t affected to a greater extent. One new result that emerges as something positive was that several informants described that the eating disorder had led to better meal situations in the family. Although the adolescents described initial conflicts around meal times, it appeared that ones the parents took control and organized family meals together the adolescents could see that this was beneficiary for the whole family. The sisters described that they felt more togetherness now than before the sister had her eating disorder. If parents are able to create a good structure and an open and supportive climate at meals the negative effects for the family may be reduced and treatment may create an opportunity for the whole the family to find good meal routines.

This study used qualitative methods to examine if there was a connection between conflict resolution styles used with siblings in adolescence and conflict resolution styles utilized in current romantic committed relationships. The Conflict Resolution Behavior Questionnaire (Reese-Weber, & Bartle-Haring, 2003) and Gottman‟s (1994a, 1994b) couple-conflict types as adapted by Holman and Jarvis (2003) were administered to 144 participants through an online questionnaire. Analysis of the CRBQ using a multiple regression indicated participant‟s self-rating of compromise, attack, and avoidant conflict resolution styles used with siblings when an adolescent predicted current self-ratings of compromise, attack, and avoidant conflict resolution styles utilized in current romantic relationships.

Syftet med denna uppsats har varit att belysa behandlares uppfattningar om syskon och partners upplevelser av att ha en nära person med en ätstörning, samt betydelsen av att involvera dem i den drabbades behandling. Studien genomfördes med en kvalitativ metod där semistrukturerade intervjuer utfördes med 6 behandlare på olika ätstörningsverksamheter i Sverige. Resultat och slutsats visade att syskon och partners, samt andra närstående, är betydelsefulla för patientens tillfriskande. Det är viktigt att syskon och partners involveras i behandling, och att de får information om sjukdom och behandling. Syskon ska inte anta en ansvarsroll, medan partner behöver ta ett visst ansvar i vardagen. Ätstörningar har en tydlig påverkan på partners och syskon, samt på närstående i allmänhet. Närstående bör få goda verktyg till hur de kan vara ett stöd på bästa sätt till den drabbade. Behandlaren ska bemöta närstående med förståelse, respekt och ingen skuldbeläggning. Det är väsentligt för patientens motivation och tillfrisknande att det finns en god och nära relation till de närstående som är involverade i behandlingen. Det finns en brist på forskning inom detta område. Vidare forskning krävs för att stärka studiens resultat och slutsats.

Studien gjordes i syfte att undersöka hur familjehemsföräldrar kan uppleva att deras uppdrag som familjehem påverkar dem själva, deras biologiska barn och deras relationer. Fokusgruppsintervjuer genomfördes med två grupper innehållande fem familjehemsföräldrar i varje grupp. Fokusgrupperna bestod av fem kvinnor och fem män emellan 33 och 61 år. En intervjuguide och en mindre enkät skapades och användes under intervjuerna som spelades in på ljudfiler. Databearbetningen bestod av en fenomenologisk, hermeneutisk analysmetod. Analysen gav tre slutliga teman: kommunikationens betydelse inom familjehemmet och i dess kontakt med omvärlden utanför hemmet; familjehemsuppdragets positiva och negativa påverkan på grundfamiljens relationer inom och utom familjen och familjehemsuppdragets positiva och negativa effekter på personlig och psykologisk utveckling hos föräldrar och biologiska barn i familjehem. Kommunikation och är ett centralt begrepp i livsvärlden för de i studien deltagande familjehemsföräldrarna. Relationer och psykologisk utveckling påverkas både positiv och negativt. Resultaten i studien är i linje med tidigare forskning och kommunikation, gränssättning och empati visade sig vara användbara verktyg i uppdraget som familjehem för föräldrarna i studien. Uppsatsen generar en modell som fick namnet Familjehemsdynamik. Modellen beskriver vilka effekter uppdraget som familjehem kan ha på individerna i grundfamiljen. / The study was done in order to investigate how foster parents experience how foster care affects themselves, their biological children and their relationships. Focus group interviews were conducted with two groups of five foster parents in each group. The focus groups consisted of five women and five men between 33 and 61 years old. An interview guide and a smaller survey was created and used during the interviews that were recorded on audio files. Data processing consisted of a phenomenological, hermeneutic analysis. The analysis gave three final themes: the importance of communication within the foster home and in their contact with the world outside the home; the impact of foster care on the biological children and their parents' relations within and outside the foster home and the positive and negative impact on personal and psychological development on parents and biological children in foster homes. Communication is a central concept in the foster carers everyday life. Relationships and psychological development is influenced both positively and negatively. The results of the study are in line with previous research. Communication, boundaries and empathy are key elements in foster care. The paper generated a model named Fostering care family dynamics. The model describes potential effects of fostering on the individuals in the biological family.