A longitudinal study of siblings of children with chronic disabilities

Objective: To examine the unaffected siblings of 2 different groups with ch ronic disabilities, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) and Down syndrom e (DS), over 3 years, comparing their adjustment with each other and with t he siblings of a nondisabled group. Method: This study examines 137 siblings of children with PDD, children wit h DS, and developmentally normal children (control group) initially and 127 siblings at follow-up 3 years later. Their adjustment is measured by the S urvey Diagnostic Instrument (SDI), completed by caregivers and teachers. Pr edictor variables include sibling self-perception, social support, and rela tionship with sibling, as indicated by siblings; caregiver psychosocial fac tors such as parental stress, caregiver depression, and marital relationshi p, family systems characteristics as viewed by both caregiver and sibling; and difficulty that disabled child causes as perceived by the primary careg iver. Results: Significantly more adjustment problems are found in the siblings o f PDD children at both times when compared with siblings of DS and control children. Caregivers of PDD children report the highest levels of distress and depression, and this persists over time. Parent distress was found at b oth times, to be related to sibling adjustment problems, regardless of stud y group. Conclusion: These results have implications for preventive intervention for the unaffected siblings of PDD children.