title: Sibling Adaptation to Childhood Cancer Collaborative Study: the association of sibling adaptation with maternal well-being, physical health, and resource use.
abstract: This multi-institutional study investigated the association of behavioral/emotional adaptation among siblings of children with cancer with maternal general well-being, physical health, and resource use. One hundred seventy siblings and mothers completed standardized interviews and self-report measures 6 to 42 months after the cancer was diagnosed. As a group, mothers of children with cancer reported significantly lower levels of well-being than matched controls. When stratified according to the level of the sibling's behavioral/emotional adaptation, mothers of siblings in the Dysfunctional group (1) reported the lowest levels of well-being; (2) during the preceding year, were more likely to have sought professional services than mothers of children in the Resilient group; and (3) were least likely to have found social support helpful. Our results support an association between maternal well-being and sibling adjustment but show it is unlikely that nonspecific social support will improve adjustment. The rationale for problem-solving training for mothers is provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester, New York, USA.
authors.forename: O J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Sahler
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Roghmann
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Mulhern
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sargent
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Copeland
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Barbarin
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Zeltzer
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dolgin
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D009679:Nuclear Family / Q000523:psychology; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012801:Sibling Relations; D012944:Social Support