Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026
07:56
Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
Paediatric life-limiting conditions: coping and adjustment in siblings
Cathy Brennan1, Siobhan Hugh-Jones, Jan Aldridge
1Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Charles Thackrah Building, 101 Clarendon Road, Leeds LS6 2JT, UK. c.a.brennan@leeds.ac.uk
Journal of Health Psychology
|September 6, 2012
Summary
Siblings of children with life-limiting conditions often develop coping strategies, like acting as family "social glue," which may impact their long-term well-being. These adaptive behaviors can mask unmet needs, requiring professional support.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Family Studies
- Pediatric Palliative Care
Background:
- Children with life-limiting conditions require significant family resources.
- Siblings of these children may face unique psychosocial challenges.
- Understanding sibling experiences is crucial for comprehensive family support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the psychosocial functioning of siblings of children with life-limiting conditions.
- To identify coping strategies employed by these siblings.
- To inform support services for affected families.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal, mixed-methods study design.
- Inclusion of 31 siblings aged 5–16 years.
- Utilized standardized psychometric measures and visual/participatory qualitative methods.
Main Results:
- Standardized measures indicated normative emotional functioning and self-worth.
- Qualitative data revealed siblings adopted adult-like roles and acted as 'social glue'.
- Siblings compartmentalized home and school life, diminishing their own needs.
Conclusions:
- Siblings develop distinct psychosocial strategies to manage family dynamics.
- While adaptive short-term, these strategies may pose long-term risks.
- Professionals need to recognize and address siblings' potentially unmet needs.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Relationship with Other Adult Family Members and Siblings
Other adult family members and siblings play a crucial role in shaping children’s social and emotional development. While parents or primary caregivers are often the central figures in early attachment and socialization, other adults in a child’s life, such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles, can significantly influence developmental outcomes. These influences depend on each adult’s personality and may help compensate when a primary caregiver is emotionally distant or inconsistent. For...
01:27Coping Strategies: Problem Focused
Coping strategies are methods people use to manage, tolerate, or reduce the effects of stressors. These strategies involve both behavioral and psychological actions to handle stressful situations. One common approach is problem-focused coping, which aims to change or eliminate the source of stress rather than merely addressing its consequences. This method involves taking direct action to resolve the issue causing stress.
For example, consider a student who struggles to understand their...
For example, consider a student who struggles to understand their...
01:28Adler's Individual Psychology
Alfred Adler, a prominent figure in psychology, founded the school of individual psychology. In contrast to Freud's emphasis on sexual or aggressive motives, Adler suggested that individuals are primarily motivated by their purposes and goals. He believed that people strive for perfection rather than pleasure. Adler argued that individuals could creatively act upon their genetic inheritance and environmental experiences to shape their own lives, emphasizing conscious motivation over unconscious...
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
01:27Ethical Issues
Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...