Are the siblings of handicapped or chronically ill children developmentally at risk? An overview of the current state of research

It was been proposed that there are five potential risks with regard to the development of children with handicapped or chronically ill siblings: (1) the strain of shouldering responsibility for the care of a handicapped or c hronically ill sibling and of having to do a greater share of the housework ; (2) reduced parental availability; (3) excessive parental expectations; ( 4) overidentification with the handicapped or chronically ill sibling; and (5) indirect risks such as the greater parenting stress or stigmatization o f the family. The state of research is assessed on the basis of 36 methodol ogically controlled studies. These reveal no indications for a general risk to children with handicapped or chronically ill siblings. Studies are exam ined to see which conditions moderate the psychosocial effects of growing u p together with a handicapped or chronically ill sibling. Some findings ind icate that older sisters are more at risk.