The Coping Responses of the Adolescent Siblings of Children with Severe Disabilities

Purpose: There is a paucity of literature conducted on adolescents' perceptions of their siblings with severe disabilities. The period of adolescence is characterized by personal and emotional conflicts resulting from teenagers' search towards self-identity and autonomy and exploration of the boundaries of parental support. The study attempts to describe the coping responses of these adolescent siblings in their adjustment to the family stressor of having a sibling with a disability; and the adolescents' available coping resources.

Method: This study is qualitative in nature and open-ended, structured interviews were conducted with 19 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 years who had a sibling with severe disabilities. The interviews were then analysed according to categories using an editing analysis style.

Results: The results indicated that the subjects reported limited family interaction and were often reticent in expressing their feelings about their sibling with a disability. In addition, they expressed guilt feelings regarding their siblings with disabilities. Furthermore, siblings of children with severe disabilities received limited information and guidance regarding their sibling's disability.

Conclusion: The need for professional support to facilitate adolescents' coping with the disability and its consequences as well as the establishment of strong support networks for these adolescents became evident.