title: An intervention to improve sibling relationship quality among youth in foster care: Results of a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: Sibling programming is an important part of a prevention framework, particularly for youth in foster care. After children are removed from their families and placed into foster care in the aftermath of maltreatment, the sibling relationship is often the most viable ongoing relationship available to the child, and may be critical to a youth's sense of connection, emotional support, and continuity. The promise of dyadic sibling programming in particular rests on the ability of interventions to enhance the quality of sibling relationships; yet little research exists that suggests that sibling interventions can improve relationship quality among foster youth. The primary aim of the current study was to examine the effects of a specific dyadic sibling-focused intervention for older and younger siblings on sibling relationship quality. One hundred sixty four dyads (328 youth) participated in the study, with each dyad consisting of an older sibling between 11 and 15 years of age at baseline and a younger sibling separated in age by less than 4 years. Hierarchical linear models were applied to self-reported, observer-reported and observational data over the 18-month study period. Findings suggest that the sibling intervention holds promise for improving sibling relationship quality among youth in foster care. Implications and future directions for research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Oregon State University, Cascades, United States. Electronic address: Brianne.kothari@osucascades.edu.
authors.forename: Brianne H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Kothari
authors.affiliation: Portland State University, United States; Oregon Social Learning Center, United States.
authors.forename: Bowen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McBeath
authors.affiliation: Portland State University, United States.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sorenson
authors.affiliation: Portland State University, United States; Oregon Social Learning Center, United States.
authors.forename: Lew
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bank
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, United States.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waid
authors.affiliation: Portland State University, United States.
authors.forename: Sara Jade
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.affiliation: Portland State University, United States.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steele
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D012801:Sibling Relations; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Foster care; Intervention; Prevention; Siblings