Siblings (N=237) of disabled children were compared to 248 siblings from a random family sampling to examine the effects of relative birth order and age spacing on psychological functioning. Younger males scored higher than older males on psychological impairment, while younger females were psychologically better off than older females. (CL)

Describes the formation, activities, and outcomes of a therapeutic group for 7- to 14-year-old siblings of handicapped children attending the Bronx Center of United Cerebral Palsy of New York City. The group met for eight weekly sessions during summer vacation from school. Limitations and positive aspects of the intervention are pointed out.…

Five siblings of autistic children relate some of their own experiences and provide insight on how this handicap manifests itself throughout the family's environment. A psychiatrist experienced with autistic children and their families comments on the siblings' stories. (SBH)

Recently, sibling incest, a type of intrafamilial incest, has received notice from mental health professionals; however, many professionals still do not recognize the seriousness of the problem. This article reviews current research on the individual and family dynamics that allow sibling incest to occur, the effects of sibling incest on victims,…

Results from administration of a standardized children's self-concept scale showed that 37 siblings (aged 7-14) of handicapped children did not differ from 37 children without handicapped siblings. Some children in both groups had poor self-concept scores, and some gender differences were identified. (Author/JDD)

A teacher's personal account of a fifth-grade child suffering from parental neglect due to the family pressures of a handicapped sibling illustrates the varieties of child neglect and the stresses sometimes imposed on siblings of children with disabilities. (DB)

Families of language-impaired children (N=76 and mean age 9 years) reported higher rates of first degree relatives with childhood language and/or learning disabilities than did families of matched controls. (Author/DB)

Observed 32 preschoolers' interactions with their toddler siblings. Preschoolers' references about emotions were more likely to be about the toddler than the self. Preschoolers who were skillful perspective takers talked more about internal emotional states and more frequently about the toddler and themselves than did poor perspective takers. (BC)

Observed mothers and fathers (from 98 mother, father, and sibling pairs) interacting with children. When younger siblings received significantly higher negative emotionality ratings from both parents, parents enacted higher rates of differential treatment favoring younger sibling. When older siblings were rated as significantly more negative in…

Examined caregivers' views of their own and their siblings' costs and contributions to parent care. Respondents viewed siblings' responses to parents' needs as remarkably similar to their own, in spite of no actual similarity. Despite perceived similarities, respondents perceived siblings as contributing less, gaining less satisfaction, feeling…

Observes sibling interaction over 10 weeks in a rural elementary school. Uses a grounded theory approach to research the nature of early sibling interaction outside the home. Analyzes interaction transcriptions. Finds overall image of sibling interaction that emerges is markedly positive; although finds some support for the contention that…

Investigated the frequency of advice about life plans that older adolescents in always-married (n=544) and divorced (n=95) families received from mothers, fathers, and siblings. Findings suggest that adolescents from both types of families rely on mothers for advice, but adolescents from divorced families depended less often on fathers and…

Objective: Clinical and population samples demonstrate that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) occurs with other disorders. Comorbid disorder clustering within ADHD subtypes is not well studied. Method: Latent class analysis (LCA) examined the co-occurrence of DSM-IV ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD),…

The theory-of-mind abilities of twins, children with nontwin siblings, and only children were compared to investigate further the link between number and type of siblings and theory-of-mind abilities. Three- to 5-year-old children with nontwin siblings outperformed both only children and twins with no other siblings, twins who also had other…

There are many reasons to expect that children gain something by growing up with siblings, yet there is surprisingly scant evidence of this advantage. Indeed, the vast majority of research assessing the consequences of siblings reports negative effects: Children with many siblings do not perform as well in school as children with few siblings. By…