Factors Influencing Resilience in Siblings of Children With Disabilities: Cross-Sectional Study

Siblings, who have the longest relationship with individuals with disabilities, may experience both negative and positive impacts. While some siblings face emotional challenges, others exhibit personal growth. The concept of resilience offers insight into these differing responses.

This study aims to analyze factors influencing the resilience of siblings of children with disabilities.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 118 sibling-parent pairs from 7 special schools in Padang, Indonesia, using random sampling. Siblings completed 3 questionnaires: the Child and Youth Resilience Measure-Revised, a modified version of the Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Parents completed a demographic form and the Parenting Style and Dimensions Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney tests, and logistic regression with model diagnostics.

Resilience was significantly associated with parenting style (P=.009), social support (P=.005), and spirituality (P=.001). In multivariate analysis, spirituality was the most influential predictor of high resilience (odds ratio [OR]=.39, 95% CI 0.17-0.94), followed by social support (OR=.31, 95% CI 0.12-0.83), and parenting style (OR=.09, 95% CI 0.01-0.83). The logistic regression model had a good fit (Hosmer-Lemeshow p=0.821) and explained 39.2% of the variance in sibling resilience (Nagelkerke R²=0.392).

Spirituality played a key role in promoting resilience among siblings of children with disabilities. Nursing interventions should consider culturally grounded approaches that enhance spiritual, emotional, and family support systems to build resilience in this population.