title: Group intervention for siblings of children with disabilities: a pilot study in a clinical setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effectiveness of a group intervention in a clinical setting designed to increase knowledge of disability and improve sibling relationship among siblings of children with disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-selected sample of 54 younger and older siblings with typical development (ages 8-12 years) of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (9), Asperger syndrome (7), autistic disorder (13), physical disability (8) and intellectual disability (17) participated in collateral sibling groups. The Sibling Knowledge Interview (SKI) and Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (SRQ) were administered pre- and post-intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SKI scores increased (p < 0.001) from pre- to post-intervention when merged diagnostic groups were compared. Comparisons of SRQ pre- and post-intervention scores across diagnostic sibling groups showed significantly different (p < 0.05) score patterns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results were encouraging and contribute to further development of interventions meeting the needs of siblings of children with disabilities. In view of the limited empirical research on group interventions for siblings of children with disabilities future work is needed to investigate the effectiveness of such interventions. Particular attention should be given to siblings of children with autism and siblings of children with intellectual disability.
authors: Habilitation and Assistive Technology Services, Uppsala County Council, Sweden.
authors: Tina
authors: T
authors: Granat
authors: Ingrid
authors: I
authors: Nordgren
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Rein
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Sonnander
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology*; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D012801:Sibling Relations; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires