Journal of Qualitative Research in Health Sciences

Authors

1 univercite of Isfahan

2 Allameh Tabatabaey univercity

Abstract

Introduction: Living with individuals suffering from intellectual disability in families engenders particular concerns, worries, and challenges for siblings. The aim of the present study was to access siblings’ lived experiences in living with individuals with intellectual disability.
Method: This study was conducted employing a qualitative method, using the lived experienced technique, and via in-depth interviewing on 9 siblings with intellectual disability selected via purposive sampling method. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using Colaizzi’s nine-step analysis method.
Results: Findings obtained from siblings’ experiences of living with individuals suffering from intellectual disability were summarized into 6 themes of “fear of the future”, “family turmoil”, “negative emotions”, “positive emotions”, “discrimination between siblings” and “social stigma”, and 9 sub-themes which were coded in the form of subgroups of 6 main themes.
Conclusion: These findings can provide information for identifying problems, significance, and adoption of supportive and medical strategies for siblings of individuals with intellectual disability to improve their psychological health.

Keywords

1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5®). American Psychiatric Pub; 2013 May 22. 2. Kreider RM, Ellis R. Living Arrangements of Children: 2009. Current Population Reports No. P70-126; Washington, DC: US Census Bureau; 2011.[September 11, 2012]. 3. Buist KL, Deković M, Prinzie P. Sibling relationship quality and psychopathology of children and adolescents: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review. 2013 Feb 28;33(1):97-106. 4. Feinberg ME, Solmeyer AR, McHale SM. The third rail of family systems: Sibling relationships, mental and behavioral health, and preventive intervention in childhood and adolescence. Clinical child and family psychology review. 2012 Mar 1;15(1):43-57. 5. Lobato DJ. Brothers, sisters, and special needs: Information and activities for helping young siblings of children with chronic illnesses and developmental disabilities. Paul H Brookes Pub Co; 1990. 6. Strohm K. Guest Editorial: Too important to ignore: Siblings of children with special needs. Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health. 2008 Jan 1;7(2):78-83. 7. Russell CL, Russell CM, Russell ME. We’re here too. The Exceptional Parent. 2003;33(6):36. 8. Afrouz GH. Interviews and consultation with parents of exceptional children.tehran. parents and teachers community.2010 [In Persian] 9. Sharpe D, Rossiter L. Siblings of children with a chronic illness: a meta-analysis. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2002 Dec 1;27(8):699-710. 10. Cuskelly M, Gunn P. Adjustment of children who have a sibling with Down syndrome: Perspectives of mothers, fathers and children. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. 2006 Dec 1;50(12):917-25. 11. Núñez B, Rodríguez L. Los hermanos de personas con discapacidad: una asignatura pendiente. Asociación Amar; 2004. 12. Bågenholm A, Gillberg C. Psychosocial effects on siblings of children with autism and mental retardation: A population‐based study. Journal of intellectual disability research. 1991 Aug 1;35(4):291-307. 13. Mandleco B, Olsen SF, Dyches T, Marshall E. The relationship between family and sibling functioning in families raising a child with a disability. Journal of Family Nursing. 2003 Nov 1;9(4):365-96. 14. Mulroy S, Robertson L, Aiberti K, Leonard H, Bower C. The impact of having a sibling with an intellectual disability: parental perspectives in two disorders. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. 2008 Mar 1;52(3):216-29. 15. Yeh-Chen K. Siblings of a child with an intellectual disability: identifying those at risk. Canada: National Library of Canada.2000 16. Dew A, Balandin S, Llewellyn G. The psychosocial impact on siblings of people with lifelong physical disability: A review of the literature. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. 2008 Oct 1;20(5):485-507. 17. Valtolina G. L’altro fratello. Relazione fraterna e disabilità, Francoangeli, Milano. 2004. 18. Britten N. Qualitative interviews in medical research. BMJ: British Medical Journal. 1995 Jul 22;311(6999):251. 19. Rezaee Dehnavi S, Nori A, Jafari M & Faramarzi S. Investigating Stigma Phenomenon among Mothers with Down Syndrome Children in Isfahan: A Psycho-Social Approach. Journal of Family Research. 2008 Mar 5(3):401-416[In Persian] 20. Blakemore T, Strazdins L, Gibbings J. Measuring family socioeconomic position. Australian Social Policy. 2009 Jul 8;8:121-68. 21. Burton SL, Parks AL. Self-esteem, locus of control, and career aspirations of college-age siblings of individuals with disabilities. Social Work Research. 1994 Sep 1;18(3):178-85. 22. Cox AH, Marshall ES, Mandleco B, Olsen SF. Coping responses to daily life stressors of children who have a sibling with a disability. Journal of Family Nursing. 2003 Nov 1;9(4):397-413. 23. Rossiter L, Sharpe D. The siblings of individuals with mental retardation: A quantitative integration of the literature. Journal of Child and family Studies. 2001 Mar 1;10(1):65-84. 24. Vermaes IP, van Susante AM, van Bakel HJ. Psychological functioning of siblings in families of children with chronic health conditions: A meta-analysis. Journal of pediatric psychology. 2011 Oct 12:jsr081.