Although considerable research exists concerning families raising children with disabilities, relatively little work has examined the linkages between parent and sibling functioning. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to... more
Although considerable research exists concerning families raising children with disabilities, relatively little work has examined the linkages between parent and sibling functioning. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to investigate the relationship between parental perceptions of family functioning and school-aged siblings' social skills and problem behaviors. A purposive sample of 78 sets of parents and their school-aged children participated. Half of the families were raising a child with a disability, and half of the families were not raising a child with a disability. Mothers and fathers completed the Porter-O'Leary Scale and Bloom's Family Functioning Measure. Teachers of the school-aged children completed a modification of the Gresham and Elliot Social Skills Rating System. Results indicated siblings of both groups demonstrate more social skills than problem behaviors, and siblings of children with disabilities were higher in cooperation and self-control than siblings of children without disabilities. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed fathers' perceptions of family conflict and external locus of control orientation, and mothers' perceptions of marital conflict predicted externalizing behaviors for female siblings of children with a disability.
This study examined sibling relationships in families raising children with autism, Down syndrome, orthopedic conditions, and diabetes. Parents from 108 families independently completed the 28-item Schaefer Sibling Inventory of Behavior.... more
This study examined sibling relationships in families raising children with autism, Down syndrome, orthopedic conditions, and diabetes. Parents from 108 families independently completed the 28-item Schaefer Sibling Inventory of Behavior. Parents rated siblings as very empathetic, fairly often kind and involved, and rarely avoidant. Mothers rated sibling empathy higher than fathers did and older siblings more avoidant than younger siblings. Fathers rated male siblings kinder than female siblings; they also rated siblings of children with Down syndrome or autism more kind and involved than siblings of children with orthopedic conditions or diabetes. Sibling intervention efforts should consider these findings and be individualized according to the need of each child and family.
Purposes/Aims: We examined caregiver burden and family hardiness in families raising children with disabilities (CWD) to (a) determine if there are differences in ratings by parent gender and type of disability and (b) identify if... more
Purposes/Aims: We examined caregiver burden and family hardiness in families raising children with disabilities (CWD) to (a) determine if there are differences in ratings by parent gender and type of disability and (b) identify if hardiness was linked to caregiver burden. Background: Caregiver burden refers to perceived stresses associated with caring for a CWD and the impact caregiving has on caregivers. It is related to the child's developmental delays, health complications, and cognitive/physical/behavioral impairments.
PurposeTo systematically review the published research and report on the efficacy of using a metereddose inhaler with a spacer (MDI-S) device in a pediatric setting to treat acute exacerbations of asthma.To systematically review the... more
PurposeTo systematically review the published research and report on the efficacy of using a metereddose inhaler with a spacer (MDI-S) device in a pediatric setting to treat acute exacerbations of asthma.To systematically review the published research and report on the efficacy of using a metereddose inhaler with a spacer (MDI-S) device in a pediatric setting to treat acute exacerbations of asthma.Data sourcesA literature search was conducted on the CINAHL, Medline, and Cochrane databases; additional searches were made by hand from the reference lists in each study retrieved from databases and from review articles written on the same topic.A literature search was conducted on the CINAHL, Medline, and Cochrane databases; additional searches were made by hand from the reference lists in each study retrieved from databases and from review articles written on the same topic.ConclusionThis critical appraisal of the research demonstrates the MDI-S is as effective as the nebulizer, faster in the delivery of medication, and cost-effective.This critical appraisal of the research demonstrates the MDI-S is as effective as the nebulizer, faster in the delivery of medication, and cost-effective.Implications for PracticeNo significant difference between the MDI-S and nebulizer in delivering medication in an acute exacerbation of asthma was found in this analysis. The practitioner's choice of delivery methods should reflect the family's preference, the practice situation, and economic considerations.No significant difference between the MDI-S and nebulizer in delivering medication in an acute exacerbation of asthma was found in this analysis. The practitioner's choice of delivery methods should reflect the family's preference, the practice situation, and economic considerations.
Background Past research focused on the effects of raising a child with autism spectrum disorder on families. However, most research examined parents' perspectives rather than siblings' perspectives. Therefore, the purpose of this... more
Background
Past research focused on the effects of raising a child with autism spectrum disorder on families. However, most research examined parents' perspectives rather than siblings' perspectives. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative descriptive design was to use photo elicitation to capture perspectives of siblings living with a child with autism spectrum disorder.
Methods
Fourteen siblings (nine male) of 13 children with autism spectrum disorder received disposable cameras with 24–27 colour exposures, and were asked to photograph what was important to them within 2 weeks. After developing snapshots, investigators interviewed siblings about their photographs, and used open, axial and selective coding to determine photograph categories and subcategories.
Results
Two major categories were found: people (family members, non-family members) and non-people (personal items/objects, animals, buildings, scenery). Interviews about photographs reflected experiences siblings had with people/non-people in the snapshots and their normal everyday activities. Most photographs revealed family life and activities any sibling would experience whether or not they lived in a family raising a child with autism spectrum disorder.
Conclusions
Photo elicitation facilitates communication between children and health-care professionals, and provides information about living with a child with autism spectrum disorder from the sibling's perspective. This information contributes to our knowledge base and allows development of specific intervention plans for siblings of these children.
A 133-item parenting questionnaire was completed by 1251 parents of preschool and school-age children. Items in this measure were reduced using principal axes factor analyses followed by varimax rotation. Three global parenting dimensions... more
A 133-item parenting questionnaire was completed by 1251 parents of preschool and school-age children. Items in this measure were reduced using principal axes factor analyses followed by varimax rotation. Three global parenting dimensions emerged consistent with Baumrind's authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive typologies. Internal consistency reliability was assessed with Cronbach alpha and additional items were deleted. A 62-item instrument was retained, and the global parenting dimensions were subsequently analyzed to assess their internal structures using principal axes factor analyses followed by oblique rotation. For each of the three global dimensions a number of specific factors were identified.
This study used photography to capture important symbols in the lives of 14 siblings of 13 youth with autism (ASD) and 16 siblings of 15 youth with Down syndrome (DS) and then determine if there were differences in the photographs taken... more
This study used photography to capture important symbols in the lives of 14 siblings of 13 youth with autism (ASD) and 16 siblings of 15 youth with Down syndrome (DS) and then determine if there were differences in the photographs taken according to the type of developmental disability, age, and gender of the sibling. Analysis revealed two types of photographs: people, including family members and non-family, and non-people, including objects, animals, and buildings/scenery. Siblings of youth with DS took a higher percentage of photographs of people and a higher percentage of photographs of family members than siblings of youth with ASD. There were also differences according to age and gender in the people/non people and within family photographs. The 7-9 year olds took a higher percentage of snapshots of typically developing siblings and him/herself whereas the 10- 12 year olds and the 13-16 year olds took a higher percentage of photographs of the youth with the disability than th...
Family research has often offered mixed descriptions of the experiences of siblings of children with disabilities some harmful and some beneficial. However, this research has rarely examined sibling relationships and how those... more
Family research has often offered mixed descriptions of the experiences of siblings of children with disabilities some harmful and some beneficial. However, this research has rarely examined sibling relationships and how those relationships relate to other family variables such as cohesion. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family cohesion and sibling relationships in families raising a child with a disability. The following research questions were asked: (1) Are there differences between mother and father perceptions of family cohesion and sibling relationships? (2) What are the relationships among family cohesion and sibling relationships in families raising a child with disabilities? 72 mothers and fathers raising a child with a disability and a child without a disability) completed the Family Cohesion subscale of Bloom’s family functioning measure and Shafer’s Sibling Inventory of Behavior. Results indicated no differences in mother’s a...
