Abstract

Session presented on: Wednesday, July 24, 2013:

Purpose: To examine whether caregiver burden, parenting style, and sibling relationship in families raising a child with a disability (CWD) predict cooperation and externalizing behaviors of the typically-developing sibling (TDS). Raising a CWD is challenging, leading to increased caregiver burden. As caregiver burden increases, a TDS may have poorer outcomes. Therefore, we examine parenting style and sibling relationship to determine if either is associated with decreased caregiver burden and/or more positive sibling outcomes.

Methods: This correlational study included 189 families raising a CWD and a TDS. Mothers and fathers completed self-report questionnaires on caregiver burden, sibling relationship, parenting style, and TDS externalizing and cooperation behaviors. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, correlations, and regressions were calculated.

Results: Hierarchical regression revealed caregiver burden was a significant predictor of cooperation and externalizing behaviors. However, when parenting style was included as a predictor, it was significant, but caregiver burden often was not. Authoritative parenting was associated with cooperative behaviors, whereas authoritarian parenting was associated with externalizing behaviors. When sibling relationship was added as a predictor, it was the only significant predictor of cooperation and externalizing behaviors; both caregiver burden and parenting style become statistically insignificant.

Conclusion: Authoritative parenting has positive effects on positive sibling behaviors while authoritarian parenting has negative effects on siblings in families raising a CWD. However, a positive sibling relationship may help negate caregiver burden and poor parenting practices as they relate to sibling outcomes. Therefore, sibling relationships should be considered in interventions supporting families raising a CWD.

Author Details

Christine R. Platt, RN, CCRN; Tina Dyches, PhD; Susanne Olsen Roper, PhD; Donna Freeborn, APRN, PhD; Barbara L. Mandleco, PhD, RN

Sigma Membership

Unknown

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

N/A

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Disability, Sibling Realtionship, Typically-Developing Sibling Outcomes

Conference Name

24th International Nursing Research Congress

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Prague, Czech Republic

Conference Year

2013

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Predictors of sibling cooperation and externalizing in families raising children with disabilities

Prague, Czech Republic

Session presented on: Wednesday, July 24, 2013:

Purpose: To examine whether caregiver burden, parenting style, and sibling relationship in families raising a child with a disability (CWD) predict cooperation and externalizing behaviors of the typically-developing sibling (TDS). Raising a CWD is challenging, leading to increased caregiver burden. As caregiver burden increases, a TDS may have poorer outcomes. Therefore, we examine parenting style and sibling relationship to determine if either is associated with decreased caregiver burden and/or more positive sibling outcomes.

Methods: This correlational study included 189 families raising a CWD and a TDS. Mothers and fathers completed self-report questionnaires on caregiver burden, sibling relationship, parenting style, and TDS externalizing and cooperation behaviors. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, correlations, and regressions were calculated.

Results: Hierarchical regression revealed caregiver burden was a significant predictor of cooperation and externalizing behaviors. However, when parenting style was included as a predictor, it was significant, but caregiver burden often was not. Authoritative parenting was associated with cooperative behaviors, whereas authoritarian parenting was associated with externalizing behaviors. When sibling relationship was added as a predictor, it was the only significant predictor of cooperation and externalizing behaviors; both caregiver burden and parenting style become statistically insignificant.

Conclusion: Authoritative parenting has positive effects on positive sibling behaviors while authoritarian parenting has negative effects on siblings in families raising a CWD. However, a positive sibling relationship may help negate caregiver burden and poor parenting practices as they relate to sibling outcomes. Therefore, sibling relationships should be considered in interventions supporting families raising a CWD.