Introduction
The literature review examines the role of siblings toward their disabled siblings, providing insights into family dynamics. The review seeks to improve understanding of experiences within families where one member has a disability. The new data can improve formal and informal systems of support available to persons with disabilities and their families. As a result of this inquiry, the complexity of such relationships can be explored, calling for improved assistance.
General Nature of Familial Relationships
Siblings of individuals with disabilities often grapple with a range of emotions. The qualitative research by Caroli and Sagone (2013) explored the attitudes that typically developing siblings hold toward their siblings with Down syndrome or autism. Such siblings can have a variety of reactions: from seeing their disabled sibling as capable of autonomy, to viewing them as unfortunate individuals who strain the family (Caroli & Sagone, 2013). Some report displeasure, anger, or satisfaction with their disabled sibling’s progress (Caroli & Sagone, 2013). The results point out that compassion is needed for families raising disabled children.
Farrell and Krahn (2014), in a special issue of “Family Relations” comprising peer-reviewed articles, also reported stressful experiences. The researchers noted the economic hardships that often characterize family life and stated the relevance of resilience (Farrell & Krahn, 2014). The important finding is that disability is a core variable shaping family dynamics, including those of disabled individuals and their siblings (Farrell & Krahn, 2014). These findings echo the pressing need for greater societal empathy and support strategies.
The pioneering work that Tsao (2019) has done, on the other hand, has shifted the focus to the caring role that typically developing siblings play in the lives of children with developmental disabilities. Tsao (2019) evaluated an intervention where typically developing brothers were taught strategies to engage their siblings with developmental disabilities in social play at home. While most researchers analyze texts or surveys, Tsao (2019) used distinct methods to observe the effects of this sibling-mediated intervention across multiple families, employing a multiple-baseline design. The intervention resulted in moderate increases in the social behaviors of children with developmental disabilities and in the use of social skills strategies by their typically developing siblings (Tsao, 2019).
Lara and de los Pinos (2017) similarly stressed the importance of family education and strong support networks in contributing to resilience. Their inquiry’s findings mirrored this perspective by showing that families who received educational programs and had access to robust support systems reported higher levels of resilience and overall well-being when dealing with the challenges of having a family member with a disability.
Disability Within Family Systems
An additional inquiry into the dynamics of disability within family systems was carried out by Farrell and Krahn (2014). The responsibilities of care, emotional connections, and social support networks are among the several facets of disability present within families (Farrell & Krahn, 2014). The authors underline the relevance of considering disability not as a barrier but rather as an integral component of family life and acknowledge the influence that societal beliefs have on families.
Lara and de los Pinos (2017) echo this by investigating the impact of disability on family dynamics. They address the depression, anxiety, and feelings of loss or pain families face when receiving the diagnosis; financial difficulties also arise due to the costs associated with caring for a child with high dependency needs (Lara & de los Pinos, 2017). Additionally, these families experience social stigma, which can lead to isolation from communities (Lara & de los Pinos, 2017). Based on the finding that disability becomes a driving force in the sibling relationship, it is likely to be influenced by race, ethnicity, class, and gender roles within the family.
Siblings of Disabled Individuals
In the context of families, Caroli and Sagone (2013) conducted a study analyzing the many ways siblings connect. Through the use of qualitative research approaches, the authors found positive views of capability from Down syndrome siblings but more negative perceptions of being “unfortunate”, “marginalized”, and a “strain” from autism/intellectual disability siblings, highlighting the need for family support (Caroli and Sagone, 2013).
In contrast, Tsao (2019) clearly focuses on the role siblings play as playmates for children with developmental issues. evaluated typically developing brothers implementing social play interventions at home with developmentally disabled siblings. This produced moderate improvements in social behavior among disabled children and increased social skills among sibling interventionists, demonstrating the potential value of such sibling-mediated interventions.
Criticisms of Methodologies
The need for critical research methodologies articulated by Lalvani and Polvere (2013) resonates with the wider discussion, which asks academics to explore the socio-historical background that shapes families with children who are damaged. Through their work, they draw attention to the need to challenge current traditions and assumptions, and they argue for more nuanced techniques to appreciate the realities of families. The demand for methodological approaches introduced by Lalvani and Polvere (2013) has seemingly been satisfied; for instance, Tsao (2019) methodically constructed a multiple-baseline design to evaluate the impact of sibling interactions on socialization and overall well-being.
Theoretical Framework and Research Questions
When viewed as a whole, these essential studies offer insight into the character of experiences families have in the realm of disabilities; however, there are certain gaps the suggested study seeks to fill. While siblings’ roles in the family are acknowledged in the literature, these roles are primarily highlighted in relation to playmates or in the context of socialization and communication, such as in Tsao (2019). The material currently in publication does not discuss how siblings of people with disabilities manage their own lives outside the home.
The purpose of the proposed study is thus to investigate the varied functions that siblings of people with disabilities perform inside the family unit. The proposed study will apply family systems theory to examine the distinct roles, interactions, and lived experiences of siblings of individuals with disabilities within interconnected family units. Family systems theory posits that families are independent emotional systems where each member influences others bidirectionally, with one member’s circumstances affecting the entire system.
Previous studies, such as Lara and de los Pinos (2017), highlighted issues such as family imbalance, lack of awareness, and the need for adaptation faced by these families, while Tsao (2019) used the theory to understand sibling dynamics. This study will specifically investigate the reciprocal impacts between the disabled sibling and other siblings. The core objective is understanding how a disabled child shapes the ongoing redefinition of sibling responsibilities, behaviors, and lived realities over time.
Based on the identified gaps, the research questions are the following:
- What are the attitudes of siblings toward their brother/sister with a disability?
- What role do the siblings of people with a disability play in the family?
Conclusion
It can be concluded that the body of research as a whole underscores how crucial it is to study families that contain people who have disabilities and to give aid to such families. This research offers a comprehensive approach to the complications inherent in family experience for further discussion. These studies call for inclusive behaviors, empathy, and care to promote the well-being of individuals with disabilities and their families. In the course of their study, these studies use a wide range of methodologies and perspectives, simultaneously stressing the necessity of specialized therapies, societal adjustments, and a more comprehensive understanding of the specific benefits and disadvantages within these families.
The literature review examines sibling relationships in families with disabilities, guided by family systems theory. The resected and Sagone (2013), Farrell and Krahn (2014), Lalvani and Polvere (2013), and Lara and de los Pinos (2017) shed light on the social perceptions, family dynamics, and individuals’ experiences of disability. The study’s concerns center on how sibling relationships affect the well-being of children with disabilities, how social views shape family interactions, and the effectiveness of family education and support networks. The findings of the literature review will guide further study on the subject.
References
Caroli, M. E. D., & Sagone, E. (2013). Siblings and disability: A study on social attitudes toward disabled brothers and sisters. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 93, 1217–1223.
Farrell, A. F., & Krahn, G. L. (2014). Family life goes on: Disability in contemporary families. Family Relations, 63(1), 1–6.
Lalvani, P., & Polvere, L. (2013). Historical perspectives on studying families of children with disabilities: A case for critical research. Disability Studies Quarterly, 33(3).
Lara, E. B., & de los Pinos, C. C. (2017). Families with a disabled member: Impact and family education. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 237, 418–425.
Tsao, L.-L. (2019). Brothers as playmates for their siblings with developmental disabilities: A multiple-baseline design study. Child & Youth Care Forum, 49(3), 409–430.