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Published on: March 27, 2013
Supporting young siblings of children with intellectual disabilities and/or visual impairments with the serious game
Linda K M Veerman1, Agnes M Willemen1, Suzanne D M Derks1
1Department of Clinical Child and Family Studies; Amsterdam Public Health; LEARN!; Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam 1081 HV, the Netherlands.
Insights
The online game "Broodles" showed small quantitative effects but significant qualitative benefits for siblings of children with disabilities, enhancing resilience and potentially preventing mental health issues.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Digital Health Interventions
- Family Support
Background:
- Siblings of children with neurodevelopmental conditions face emotional challenges and mental health risks.
- Limited availability of sibling support interventions necessitates accessible solutions.
- The 'Broodles' serious game offers a free, online, self-administered intervention for siblings aged 6-9.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the social validity and effectiveness of the 'Broodles' game.
- To evaluate the game's impact on quality of life and inter/intrapersonal factors.
- To understand the experiences of siblings using the intervention.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods, waitlist control group, randomized controlled trial.
- 107 parent-child dyads completed questionnaires at baseline, 1-month, and 2-month follow-up.
- Multilevel modeling for quantitative effects and thematic analysis for qualitative feedback.
Main Results:
- Weak interaction effects on negative adjustment were observed in engaged users (≥75% game completion).
- Small, significant improvements over time were noted across various outcomes, irrespective of group.
- 'Broodles' was rated as fun (80%) and helpful (79%), with learning themes including 'sibling awareness' and 'coping strategies'.
Conclusions:
- Qualitative data indicate 'Broodles' fosters resilience and may prevent mental health issues in siblings.
- Quantitative effects were modest, suggesting potential for enhancement.
- Future research should explore adding family-focused components to amplify the intervention's impact.
Background:
Siblings of children with neurodevelopmental conditions experience conflicting emotions and have an increased risk of mental health problems. Several sibling interventions have been developed, but few are readily available, leaving many siblings unsupported. Therefore, the free, online, self-administered sibling serious game 'Broodles' was developed. This study assessed its social validity and effectiveness in promoting quality of life, and inter- and intrapersonal factors in siblings (6-9 years) of children with intellectual disabilities and/or visual impairments.
Methods:
A mixed methods, waitlist control group, randomized controlled trial was conducted. In total, 107 Dutch or Belgian parent-child dyads completed questionnaires at three timepoints (baseline, one-month post-test, two-month follow-up). The intervention group also completed post-test interviews. Effects were assessed using multilevel modelling, and thematic analysis was applied to the evaluations.
Results:
Significant, weak interaction effects (R² = .03-.06) were found on sibling negative adjustment, but only in those who completed ≥ 75 % of the game and followed the study timeline. Regardless of group, (very) small, significant improvements over time were found on several outcomes (R² = .01-.06). 'Broodles' was experienced as fun (80 %) and helpful (79 %). Perceived learning outcomes included the themes: 'sibling awareness and validation', 'emotions and needs', 'coping with emotions and situations' and 'family interactions'.
Conclusion:
Although quantitative data showed small effects, qualitative data revealed a variety of learning outcomes which can contribute to siblings' resilience, and prevention of mental health problems. To unlock its full potential, future studies should examine if additional family-targeted components can enhance the intervention's impact.
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