Siblings of kids w/ chronic disease

• are vulnerable to both psychological problems and precocious development.
• Protective factors for siblings include
  • adequate financial resources, harmonious relationships, and a stable marriage.
  • large family
  • larger age spacing
  • It is believed that younger children are less likely to develop psychopathology than older siblings. Preschool children whose parents can nurture them effectively while continuing to care for the chronically ill child should be able to develop normally.  Because school-age children must deal directly with peers in school and elsewhere, parents may not be able to protect them as well as they can preschool children.
     
• Gender has been linked to both positive and negative outcomes
• Females are believed to be at higher risk for negative outcomes because they may have to assume caregiving roles.
   

References:
Leonard BJ. Siblings of chronically ill children: a question of
vulnerability versus resilience. Pediatr Ann. 1991;20:505-506
Stewart DA, Stein A, Forrest GC, Clark DM. Psychosocial adjustment in
siblings with chronic life-threatening illness: a research note. J
Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1992;33:779-784
Stuber ML. Psychiatric sequelae in seriously ill children and their
families. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 1996;19:481-493