Argues that teachers of children with seriously ill siblings are important as constancy figures, crisis interventionists, and support mechanisms. Details common reactions of well siblings including guilt, jealousy, rejection, isolation, and fear. Discusses responses that facilitate coping that teachers can make to behavioral and physical…

Conducted a trivariate genetic analysis of the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME), Mental Development Index (MDI), and Task Orientation (TO). Found that for 101 nonadoptive and 92 adoptive sibling pairs at 12 and 24 months of age, TO explained the remaining genetic variance on the HOME not explained by the MDI. (MDM)

Fifty-four siblings of children with Down Syndrome, their parents, and a matched group of comparison children and parents provided data about sibling relationships. There were no group differences in parental reports. Siblings of children with Down syndrome reported less unkindness and, if in a same-sex dyad, more empathy than did comparison…

Investigated effects of older siblings on imitation by 12-, 15-, and 18-month-olds. Found that all age groups acquired one to two new behaviors per day through imitation. Older infants imitated more multi-step sequences and substituted more objects during reenactment than younger. Compared to infants without siblings, infants with siblings…

Among over 18,000 high school students, closely spaced siblings (0-2 years) exerted negative effects 2-10 times greater than distantly spaced siblings on verbal and math standardized test scores, grade point average, and preschool parental involvement. Effects of sex composition of siblings were mixed. Contains 59 references. (SV)

Investigated behavioral adjustment of 61 children (ages 4-16) during terminal illness and first year following sibling's death from cancer. Collected data from parents and teachers using Child Behavior Checklist. Results indicated that bereaved siblings demonstrated significantly higher levels of behavior problems and significantly lower social…

Results of this study of 96 sibling dyads demonstrated necessity of going beyond the examination of between-group differences in the study of divorce effects to look at the processes by which developmental outcomes for children are enhanced or undermined. Findings draw attention to the heightened vulnerability of dyads containing older boys in…

Discusses counseling needs of siblings of handicapped children. Cites four areas predictive of adjustment of siblings: parental attitude toward handicapped child, gender and birth order of nonhandicapped sibling, problems experienced by handicapped sibling, and child-rearing practices of parents. Needs of nonhandicapped siblings are identified and…

Questionnaires completed by 2,511 secondary school students in Netherlands revealed that only children (N=280) did not appear to be less happy than children with siblings, nor was their global self-esteem any lower. Only children felt less proficient at sports, but did not consider themselves better in school or less popular among peers than did…

The literature is reviewed on sibling relationships involving a child who is handicapped. An analysis of interaction patterns for nonhandicapped children is also provided. Factors contributing to a sibling's adjustment include family size, socioeconomic status, and characteristics of the child who is handicapped. Potential instructional roles of…

Examination of friendships in 51 high-risk preschool-age children, of whom 38 were in foster care, found that most of the children had a "best friend" but the foster children all had friends who were quasi-siblings. Results suggest that foster care placement and the presence of siblings may influence a child's interactions with nonrelated peers.…

Mothers (n=235), ages 58 to 96, caring for adult offspring with mental retardation were interviewed. Four variables influenced their stage of permanency planning: (1) use of services for offspring, (2) non-use of avoidance coping, (3) self-perception of age-related changes, and (4) help from offspring without mental retardation. (Author/DB)

Studied 123 Canadian families who had adopted 155 international adoptees during the 1970s, compared to 121 Canadian-born siblings in adoptive families, and adolescents and young adults in general population. Found gender differences and that international adoptees fare as well or better than adolescents and young adults in the general population…

This study describes a predominantly Caucasian, middle-income sample (n=12) of sibling incest offenders from primarily intact families. Demographics, behavioral dysfunction, psychiatric diagnoses, history of victimization, family characteristics, and abuse characteristics are presented. Ninety-two percent of offenders had a history of being…

Examined 30 Indonesian toddlers' play with their mothers and siblings. Found that the level of object play and mutual involvement in cooperative social pretend play increased with age. Findings suggest that older siblings can be effective facilitators of pretend play with younger children. (MDM)