title: The emotional and behavioural functioning of siblings of children with special health care needs across childhood.
abstract: This study examined the emotional and behavioural functioning of siblings of children with special health care needs identified in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). Of the 106 siblings identified, 15-52% had emotional and behavioural difficulties in the at-risk or clinical range on the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) subscales when aged 4-5 (wave 1), 6-7 (wave 2), 8-9 (wave 3) and 10-11 years (wave 4). After controlling for differences in socio-economic position, siblings had significantly higher difficulties on all subscales than their peers without a brother or sister with a special health care need at most time points. Latent growth modelling revealed little change in emotional and behavioural symptoms for siblings across childhood, while behavioural symptoms decreased for their peers. These findings suggest that some siblings are at heightened risk of emotional and behavioural difficulties across childhood, underscoring the importance of assessing and promoting the wellbeing of all family members when providing services to children with special health care needs.
authors: Parenting Research Centre, 5/232 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, Victoria 3002, Australia; RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. Electronic address: rgiallo@parentingrc.org.au.
authors: Rebecca
authors: R
authors: Giallo
authors: School of Psychology, The University of Adelaide, Level 4, Hughes Building, South Australia 5005, Australia.
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Roberts
authors: Centre for Disability Research and Policy, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Emerson
authors: Swinburne University of Technology, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Wood
authors: RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia.
authors: Susana
authors: S
authors: Gavidia-Payne
mesh_terms: D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology*; D012923:Social Class; D013064:Speech Disorders; D014786:Vision Disorders
keywords: Childhood; Emotional and behavioural difficulties; Mental health; Siblings; Special health care needs