BEHAVIORAL-PROBLEMS OF CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC PHYSICAL ILLNESS AND THEIR SIBLINGS

Citation
M. Stawski et al., BEHAVIORAL-PROBLEMS OF CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC PHYSICAL ILLNESS AND THEIR SIBLINGS, European child & adolescent psychiatry, 6(1), 1997, pp. 20-25
Citations number
26
Categorie Soggetti
Psychiatry,"Psychology, Developmental
ISSN journal
10188827
Volume
6
Issue
1
Year of publication
1997
Pages
20 - 25
Database
ISI
SICI code
1018-8827(1997)6:1<20:BOCWCP>2.0.ZU;2-Y
Abstract
Children suffering from chronic physical illness are considered to be at increased risk for behavioural problems, There is also evidence tha t their siblings are at risk for behavioural problems, This study inve stigated parent-reported behavioural problems in chronically ill child ren and their siblings. There were significant positive correlations b etween the behaviour problem scores of the ill children and the scores of their siblings. Siblings older than the ill child had significantl y higher behaviour problem scores of an internalizing nature than did the younger siblings. Sibling behaviour problem scores were similar to those of a comparison group of normal children and significantly diff erent from those of a comparison group of psychiatrically referred chi ldren. Siblings of chronically ill children showed no greater likeliho od of receiving scores in the clinical range of behaviour problems tha n children in the general population. Implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.