Applying Relational Turbulence Theory to the Context of Sibling Caregiving Coordination for Ill Parent(s)

The current study applied the relational turbulence theory (RTT) to sibling relationships and examined both the relational and health implications of siblings' care coordination for ill parent(s). People (N = 276) who were co-caring for ill parent(s) with at least one sibling completed an online survey to assess their perceptions of sibling relationships, communication with siblings, and caregiver burden. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results were largely consistent with the theoretical predictions of RTT. Specifically, relational uncertainty and interdependence in sibling relationships were related to cognitive and affective responses, which were associated with communicative outcomes, relational turbulence, and ultimately caregiver burden. We further explored the distinctive sibling relationship dynamics in proximal and long-distance caregiving. Multigroup analysis results revealed no significant differences in relationship dynamics between proximal and long-distance caregiving groups. Implications and limitations of the findings are discussed.