title: [The mental health of only children and of siblings with cancer - first results of a multicenter study in Germany].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children of parents with cancer are at risk of developing mental disorders. RESULTS from divorce research also reveal that sibling relationships can protect the mental health of children in difficult times.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Does having a sibling help to cope with an oncological disease of a parent and thus act as a protective factor?
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 271 children were examined in a multicenter study. 54 % made use of the offered psychosocial support. Only children (N = 89) and children with siblings (N = 182) were compared with respect to their mental health (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ, parental and self-assessment).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The group comparison between only children and siblings showed no significant differences in the SDQ (assessed by healthy/ill parent). In the self-assessment 2 % of the only children and 9 % of the siblings showed significant results on the SDQ. The group comparison between only children and children with siblings failed to reveal any important differences in mental health. The study indicates that a negative relationship quality (Sibling Relationship Questionnaire, SRQ) is associated with increased problems in the peer group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The existence of a sibling is not per se a protective factor. Only children do not show more signs of emotional stress than children with siblings.
authors.affiliation: Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, CVK, Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bojanowski
authors.affiliation: Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, CVK, Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Führer
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romer
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Institut für Medizinische Psychologie.
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bergelt
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik des Kindes- und Jugendalters.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: von Klitzing
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Selbständige Abteilung Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie.
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brähler
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Klinik für Psychosomatische und Allgemeine Klinische Medizin.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie.
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Resch
authors.affiliation: Otto-von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie.
authors.forename: Hans-Henning
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Flechtner
authors.affiliation: Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, CVK, Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lehmkuhl
authors.affiliation: Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, CVK, Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters.
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Weschenfelder-Stachwitz
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002667:Child Reactive Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D009863:Only Child / Q000523:psychology*; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012307:Risk Factors; D012801:Sibling Relations; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Children of parents with cancer; Geschwister; Kinder krebskranker Eltern; emotional stress; multicenter study; multizentrische Studie; protective factors; protektive Faktoren; psychische Belastung; siblings