Stress and Coping in Siblings of Individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities
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Date
2024-03-27
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Vanderbilt University
Abstract
PSY-PC 4999 - Honors Seminar - Dr. Jessika Boles
Millions of children are living with intellectual and developmental disabilities worldwide, yet
little is known about this experience from the vantage point of neurotypical siblings. Therefore,
the purpose of this mixed-methods study was to explore the coping mechanisms and stressors of
adult siblings of individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disability to identify
opportunities for better supporting this population. Twenty-seven adults who identified as a
sibling of a person with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities completed a series of
electronic instruments including a demographic questionnaire, the Coping Resources Inventory,
the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory, and the Perceived Stress Scale.
Thirteen participants also completed a semi-structured telephone interview following survey
completion. Results demonstrated that participants most often used Self-Blame, Instrumental
Support, and Acceptance coping mechanisms, and that, overall, emotional and social were the
most commonly endorsed coping resources. Interview responses highlighted four major themes:
1) caretaking across the lifespan, 2) negotiating normalcy inside and outside the household, 3)
parental transparency about sibling diagnosis and 4) reframing the sibling experience. Taken
together, the results of this study suggest that providers and caregivers can better support siblings
of individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities by recognizing and supporting
them through the negotiation of normalcy that comes with their unique stressors and experiences.
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Keywords
stress, coping, siblings, intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities