Longitudinal direct and indirect pathways linking older sibling competence to the development of younger sibling competence

Scoping review: quality of life of siblings of children who are deaf and hard of hearing, have a vision or motor impairment

This study identified the current state of knowledge about the Quality of Life (QoL) of siblings of children who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH), have a vision impairment (VI) or motor impairment (MI). Additionally, factors associated with individual variation in QoL were examined. A scoping review was performed using PsycInfo, ERIC, Web of Science, and CINAHL. Empirical studies with siblings (age 0-18 years) of children who are DHH, have a VI or MI that investigate the QoL of siblings were included. A total of 1746 studies were identified of which 11 met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that QoL has different interpretations and various measurement tools are used. The findings showed both positive and negative outcomes for the QoL of siblings. For example, family cohesion was found as a positive consequence. A negative consequence could be a higher score on problem behavior. Personal and parental characteristics such as age and parental availability were two main factors related to individual variation in QoL. Insight in the factors related to individual variation may help researchers to consider the research perspective. In addition, healthcare providers can use the information to be either aware or intervene on specific factors that are related to the QoL of the children who are DHH, have a VI or MI and their siblings.

Modelling triadic relationships in families of children with intellectual disability

Background

Method

Results

Conclusions

The role of siblings in the process of forming life satisfaction among young adults – moderating function of gender

The main aim of the study was to explore the relationship between life satisfaction and sibling bond quality, with gender playing a moderating role. The sample consisted of 276 young adults with a single biological sibling. The participants completed three questionnaires: a sociodemographic survey, the STQ-Now (quality of the sibling relationship) and the SWLS (level of life satisfaction). No difference was observed between men and women regarding life satisfaction; however, the gender constellation in a sibling dyad was found to be statistically significant. Same-sex pairs scored higher on life satisfaction than cross-sex siblings. A positive relationship with a brother or a sister based on mutuality correlated with high overall satisfaction with life, while criticism, competition and apathy were associated with lower general satisfaction. Additionally, two of these relations (i.e. mutuality and apathy) were moderated by gender. Lastly, representatives of the Supportive type of relationships obtained higher levels of life satisfaction than the Ambivalent or the Reluctant types. The findings suggest that siblings play an essential role in shaping psychological well-being. As early adulthood is a stage characterised by multitasking and various challenges, the formation of positive, adaptive and supportive sibling bond may maintain good life satisfaction. The findings also underline the significance of gender combination in the relationship.

Experiences of adult siblings of those with developmental coordination disorder (DCD): a qualitative study

This qualitative study explored the childhood experiences of growing up with a sibling with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) to offer an ‘outsider’s’ view of this condition. Ten individuals who had grown up with a sibling with DCD were interviewed about their experiences. Data were analysed using Thematic Analysis. Analysis described three main themes: i)‘witnessing the challenges for their sibling with DCD’ ii) ‘experiencing the impact on the family’; iii) ‘a vacuum of knowledge’. Not all experiences were negative and transcending these themes was the notion ‘resolution and finding benefit’ highlighting access to support, being more empathic and resilient, becoming a role model for others and finding success. Participants play witness to their sibling’s experiences which can often be negative sometimes impacted by a vacuum of knowledge but they also describe how a diagnosis of DCD comes with some benefits which are discussed in the context of ‘posttraumatic growth’.

Older Siblings as Academic Socialization Agents for Younger Siblings: Developmental Pathways across Adolescence

The role of older siblings in younger siblings' academic socialization becomes increasingly salient during adolescence. This longitudinal study examines the developmental mechanisms through which older siblings shape younger siblings' academic outcomes and whether older siblings' peer affiliations predict younger siblings' educational aspirations and attainment. Data consisted of responses from 395 target adolescents (M_age = 12.22 years, 48.9% female; 51.6% African American, 38.5% European American) and their older siblings (M_age = 14.65 years, 50.1% female) across nine years. The findings showed that older siblings' affiliation with academically disengaged peers at 7th grade predicted younger siblings' decreased affiliation with academically engaged peers and increased affiliation with disengaged peers at 9th grade. In addition, younger siblings' affiliation with academically engaged peers predicted greater educational aspirations at 11th grade, which in turn were related to higher postsecondary educational attainment. The identification of developmental processes through which older siblings were associated with younger siblings' academic success may aid in creating supportive social environments in which adolescents can thrive.

Trajectory classes of cannabis use and heavy drinking among rural African American adolescents: multi-level predictors of class membership

AIMS

To inform research on the etiology and prevention of substance use among rural African American youth by (a) identifying developmental trajectory classes of cannabis use and heavy drinking across adolescence and young adulthood and (b) examining associations between trajectory class membership and multi-level assessments of risk factors.

DESIGN

A prospective study spanning 9 years with assessments of cannabis use and heavy drinking, the catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine, perceived stress and psychosocial risk factors.

SETTING

Rural communities in the southeastern United States.

PARTICIPANTS

African American youth (n = 518).

MEASUREMENTS

Participants were assessed for cannabis use and heavy drinking at seven assessments beginning at 16 years of age and continuing to 25 years of age. At age 19, participants provided overnight urine voids that were assayed for catecholamines, a biological marker of life stress resulting from sympathetic nervous system activation. At ages 16 and 19, participants provided information on malleable psychosocial risk factors.

FINDINGS

Latent class growth models revealed three distinct trajectory classes for cannabis use and for heavy drinking. Higher levels of circulating stress hormones and perceived stress were associated with classes reporting greater substance use over time (all Ps < 0.05). A composite of selected risk factors discriminated class membership (all Ps < 0.05). Trajectory classes characterized by rapid usage increases in early adulthood exhibited the greatest increase in deviant peer affiliations between ages 16 and 19 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Rural African American youth's cannabis use and heavy drinking across adolescence and young adulthood demonstrate distinct developmental courses; a small number of risk factors and measures of biological and perceived stress differentiate class membership prognostically. Variability over time in these measures, specifically an increase in deviant peer affiliation, may help to account for steep increases in young adulthood.

Transmission of Work Ethic in African-American Families and Its Links with Adolescent Adjustment

A strong work ethic generally has positive implications for achievements in work and school settings, but we know little about how it develops. This study aimed to describe the intra-familial transmission of work ethic and the associations between work ethic and adjustment in African American youth. Mothers, fathers, and two adolescent siblings (M age = 14.1 years) in 158 families were interviewed on two occasions. Path models revealed that fathers' work ethic was positively linked with older siblings' work ethic, which in turn was linked with more positive youth adjustment in the domains of school functioning and externalizing and internalizing problems. Moreover, the results indicated that the work ethics of older siblings, but not parents, was linked to those of younger siblings. The discussion focuses on the importance of African American fathers and siblings in youth adjustment and how work ethic may promote positive development.

Self-Regulation and Conduct Problems Among Low-Income African American Youth From Single-Mother Homes: The Roles of Perceived Neighborhood Context and Child Gender

The present study examines perceived neighborhood context and gender as moderators of the relation between self-regulation and conduct problems among low-income African American youth (7 to 15 years old; 50% girls) from single-mother homes. Mother-child dyads (N = 277) provided ratings of self-regulation, neighborhood resources and risks, and aggression and other conduct problems. Analyses revealed a significant three-way interaction among self-regulation, neighborhood context, and gender. Neighborhoods lower in resources and higher in risks exacerbated the link between poor self-regulation and aggression and conduct problems for girls, but not for boys. Clinical implications of the findings and future research directions are discussed.

Siblings' Direct and Indirect Contributions to Child Development

Since the early 1980s, a growing body of research has described the contributions of sibling relationships to child and adolescent development. Interactions with older siblings promote young children's language and cognitive development, their understanding of other people's emotions and perspectives, and, conversely, their development of antisocial behavior. Studies address the ways in which parents' experiences with older children contribute to their rearing of younger children, which in turn contributes to the younger children's development. Finally, by virtue of having a sibling, children may receive differential treatment from their parents. Under some conditions, differential treatment is associated with emotional and behavioral problems in children.

Social Risk Factors of Black and White Adolescents' Substance Use: The Differential Role of Siblings and Best Friends

Efforts to understand peer influence among adolescents have established the robust relationship between having substance using peers and future substance use. Still, research suggests that peer influence affects different types of adolescents in different ways. Black adolescents may be less susceptible to friends compared to white adolescents and possess stronger family-orientation, suggesting that siblings may affect deviance of Black adolescents whereas friends will have a minimal impact. This study used data from the first two waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to evaluate the relative strength of best friend and siblings' influence as risk factors for Black and White adolescents' alcohol and cigarette use. Approximately 182 Black sibling pairs (37 % male) and 657 white sibling pairs (46 % male) that ranged in ages from 11 to 19 were in the longitudinal analyses for the current study. The findings demonstrated that sibling and best friends' substance use explained white adolescents' cigarette and alcohol use, whereas Black adolescents' cigarette and alcohol use was predominantly explained by siblings' substance use. Ultimately, the results indicated the nuanced role that two types of peers have in explaining variation in substance use across Black and White adolescents.

Sibling Relationships and Adolescent Adjustment: Longitudinal Associations in Two-Parent African American Families

Sibling relationships have been described as love-hate relationships by virtue of their emotional intensity, but we know little about how sibling positivity and negativity operate together to affect youth adjustment. Accordingly, this study charted the course of sibling positivity and negativity from age 10 to 18 in African American sibling dyads and tested whether changes in relationship qualities were linked to changes in adolescents' internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Participants were consecutively-born siblings [at Time 1, older siblings averaged 14.03 (SD = 1.80) years of age, 48 % female; younger siblings averaged 10.39 (SD = 1.07) years of age, 52 % female] and two parents from 189 African American families. Data were collected via annual home interviews for 3 years. A series of multi-level models revealed that sibling positivity and sibling negativity declined across adolescence, with no significant differences by sibling dyad gender constellation. Controlling for age-related changes as well as time-varying parent-adolescent relationship qualities, changes in sibling negativity, but not positivity, were positively related to changes in adolescents' depressive symptoms and risky behaviors. Like parent-adolescent relationships, sibling relationships displayed some distancing across adolescence. Nevertheless, sibling negativity remained a uniquely important relational experience for African American adolescents' adjustment.

Familiality of mood repair responses among youth with and without histories of depression

Affect regulation skills develop in the context of the family environment, wherein youths are influenced by their parents', and possibly their siblings', regulatory responses and styles. Regulatory responses to sadness (mood repair) that exacerbate or prolong dysphoria (maladaptive mood repair) may represent one way in which depression is transmitted within families. We examined self-reported adaptive and maladaptive mood repair responses across cognitive, social and behavioural domains in Hungarian 11- to 19-year-old youth and their parents. Offspring included 214 probands with a history of childhood-onset depressive disorder, 200 never depressed siblings and 161 control peers. Probands reported the most problematic mood repair responses, with siblings reporting more modest differences from controls. Mood repair responses of parents and their offspring, as well as within sib-pairs, were related, although results differed as a function of the regulatory response domain. Results demonstrate familiality of maladaptive and adaptive mood repair responses in multiple samples. These familial associations suggest that relationships with parents and siblings within families may impact the development of affect regulation in youth.

Enhancing sibling relationships to prevent adolescent problem behaviors: theory, design and feasibility of Siblings Are Special

Siblings play a significant but neglected role in family socialization dynamics, and focusing on the sibling relationship is a non-stigmatizing point of entry into the family for prevention programming. Siblings are Special (SAS) was designed as a universal program that targets both sibling relationship and parenting mediating processes in middle childhood to prevent behavior problems in adolescence. We describe the theoretical framework underlying SAS, the SAS curriculum, and the feasibility of the program based on a study of 128 middle-childhood aged sibling dyads. Data on the quality of program implementation, program fidelity, siblings' engagement, and ratings of impact indicated the SAS program was acceptable to families and schools, that the curriculum could be implemented with high fidelity, that siblings and parents participated at high levels and were highly engaged, and that, from the perspective of group leaders, school administrators and parents, the program had a positive impact on the siblings.

How Caregivers Make Meaning of Child Mental Health Problems: Toward Understanding Caregiver Strain and Help Seeking

Family caregivers' conceptualizations of their child's emotional and behavioral problems (EBP) influence help-seeking for the child and caregiver strain. We analyzed 21 interviews with caregivers to explore their conceptualizations about the cause of their child's EBP, their experiences of strain, and their reported help-seeking behaviors. Caregivers had divergent conceptualizations of their child's EBP: 12 caregivers viewed the EBP as caused by a disorder and described the onset of symptoms as the central stressful event, whereas 9 caregivers described their child's problems as a response to an earlier stressor (e.g. trauma, abuse, divorce). Different patterns of caregiver strain and help-seeking were associated with caregiver conceptualization. All caregivers voiced a need for peer-to-peer support for caregivers and youth with EBP.

Sibling Relationships and Influences in Childhood and Adolescence

The authors review the literature on sibling relationships in childhood and adolescence, starting by tracing themes from foundational research and theory and then focusing on empirical research during the past 2 decades. This literature documents siblings' centrality in family life, sources of variation in sibling relationship qualities, and the significance of siblings for child and adolescent development and adjustment. Sibling influences emerge not only in the context of siblings' frequent and often emotionally intense interactions but also by virtue of siblings' role in larger family system dynamics. Although siblings are building blocks of family structure and key players in family dynamics, their role has been relatively neglected by family scholars and by those who study close relationships. Incorporating study of siblings into family research provides novel insights into the operation of families as social and socializing systems.

Family relationships and parental monitoring during middle school as predictors of early adolescent problem behavior

The middle school years are a period of increased risk for youths' engagement in antisocial behaviors, substance use, and affiliation with deviant peers (Dishion & Patterson, 2006 ). This study examined the specific role of parental monitoring and of family relationships (mother, father, and sibling) that are all critical to the deterrence of problem behavior in early adolescence. The study sample comprised 179 ethnically diverse 6th-grade (46% female) students who were followed through 8th grade. Results indicated that parental monitoring and father-youth connectedness were associated with reductions in problem behavior over time, and conflict with siblings was linked with increases in problem behaviors. No associations were found for mother-youth connectedness. These findings did not differ for boys and for girls, or for families with resident or nonresident fathers.

The third rail of family systems: sibling relationships, mental and behavioral health, and preventive intervention in childhood and adolescence

Sibling relationships are an important context for development, but are often ignored in research and preventive interventions with youth and families. In childhood and adolescence, siblings spend considerable time together, and siblings' characteristics and sibling dynamics substantially influence developmental trajectories and outcomes. This paper reviews research on sibling relationships in childhood and adolescence, focusing on sibling dynamics as part of the family system and sibling influences on adjustment problems, including internalizing and externalizing behaviors and substance use. We present a theoretical model that describes three key pathways of sibling influence: one that extends through siblings' experiences with peers and school, and two that operate largely through family relationships. We then describe the few existing preventive interventions that target sibling relationships and discuss the potential utility of integrating siblings into child and family programs.

Cross-age peer mentoring approach to impact the health outcomes of children and families

Family-Centered Care provides a forum for sharing information about basic components of caring for children and families, including respect, information sharing, collaboration, family-to-family support, and confidence building.

Impact on siblings of children with intellectual disability: the role of child behavior problems

The impact on everyday life for siblings of children with intellectual disability or typical development was examined. Participants were families of children with intellectual disability (n=39) or typical development (n=75). Child behavior problems and sibling impact were assessed at child ages 5, 6, 7, and 8. Results indicate that siblings of children with intellectual disability were consistently reported by mothers and fathers to be more negatively impacted compared to siblings of typically developing children. When child behavior problems were accounted for, however, there was no longer a significant relationship between child intellectual status and sibling impact. For both intellectual disability and typical development groups, cross-lagged panel analyses indicate that early child behavior problems lead to increased sibling negative impact over time.

The presence or absence of older siblings and variation in infant goal-directed motor development

This study investigates the relationship between having an older sibling and early goal-directed motor development. In a longitudinal study, infants were filmed playing with their mother and were observed at 5 and 12 months of age. After each observation, they were assessed with the Mental Bayley Scale. From the mother—child interaction, playing was coded in terms of the production of infant goal-directed actions. Results indicated that infants with siblings produced fewer goal-directed actions at 5 months than infants without older siblings, but at 12 months they produced relatively more goal-directed actions than infants without older siblings. There was no relationship with scores on the Mental Bayley Scale. In order to examine differences in adult behavior that may account for variation in infant motor performance, maternal level of motionese was scored with no differences found between the sibling—no sibling groups.

The course of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms after foster placement

BACKGROUND

It is largely unknown whether symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity of foster children decline over time after placement and what the role of the quality and stability of the foster placement is on the course of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptom trajectories. Longitudinal studies of normative trajectories of symptom types in nonreferred children may assist in appropriately diagnosing ADHD and designing the clinical treatment for foster children.

OBJECTIVE

We described average level and slope of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms over time and examined parental (biological and foster) warmth and hostility and placement stability (number of foster-home moves and discharge from care) as reported by 3 informants (biological parent, foster parent, and classroom teacher) after considering maltreatment risks (child age, gender, sibling ADHD, and comorbidity) and use of ADHD medication.

METHODS

We studied 252 maltreated children in 95 families during 4 yearly waves, beginning shortly after placement; children were assessed whether they remained in or were discharged from foster care.

RESULTS

Average level of inattention declined according to the biological parent, whereas hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms declined according to both biological and foster parents. Higher inattention was associated with lower parental warmth (foster parent), higher parental hostility (biological, foster, and teacher), and discharge from care (biological parent). Higher hyperactivity was also associated with lower parental warmth (foster parent) and higher parental hostility (biological and foster parent), higher (average) number of foster-home moves, and discharge from care (biological report). Higher teacher-derived hyperactivity symptoms were associated with a history of child abuse (versus neglect); however, abused children showed a steeper decline of hyperactivity over time than those with neglect histories. Unexpected interactions were found for the impact over time of parental (foster) warmth and number of foster-home moves.

CONCLUSION

Findings point to the clinical usefulness of attending to the parenting quality and placement stability as malleable factors affecting symptom reduction subsequent to placement.

Aggressive behavior between siblings and the development of externalizing problems: evidence from a genetically sensitive study

This study investigated the prospective links between sibling aggression and the development of externalizing problems using a multilevel modeling approach with a genetically sensitive design. The sample consisted of 780 adolescents (390 sibling pairs) who participated in 2 waves of the Nonshared Environment in Adolescent Development project. Sibling pairs with varying degree of genetic relatedness, including monozygotic twins, dizygotic twins, full siblings, half siblings, and genetically unrelated siblings, were included. The results showed that sibling aggression at Time 1 was significantly associated with the focal child's externalizing problems at Time 2 after accounting for the intraclass correlations between siblings. Sibling aggression remained significant in predicting subsequent externalizing problems even after controlling for the levels of preexisting externalizing problems and mothers' punitive parenting. This pattern of results was fairly robust across models with different informants. The findings provide converging evidence for the unique contribution of sibling aggression in understanding changes in externalizing problems during adolescence.

The Influence of Role Status on Risky Sexual Behavior Among African Americans During the Transition to Adulthood

Little research has examined the links between role status changes during the transition to adulthood and sexual behaviors that place African Americans at risk for sexually transmitted infections. Moreover, the mediating processes that explain these links, or protective factors that may buffer young adults from risky sexual behavior, are unknown. African American young adults who had either completed or dropped out of high school (ages 18 to 21, N = 186) provided information regarding their sexual behavior, role status, substance use, peer affiliations, religiosity, and receipt of protective family processes. Anticipated school attendance, part-time rather than full-time employment, and residence in a dorm or barracks rather than with peers or alone were negatively associated with risk behavior. Parenthood was positively associated with risk behavior; affiliation with peers who encourage risky sex partially accounted for this effect. Substance use fully accounted for the effect of part-time versus full-time employment on sexual risk behavior. Protective family processes and religiosity moderated the association of parenthood with sexual risk behavior. Prospective studies on these processes are warranted.

Relations among mothers' expressivity, children's effortful control, and their problem behaviors: a four-year longitudinal study

Longitudinal relations between mothers' expressivity, children's effortful control, and their problem behaviors were examined when children (N = 181) were 6.5-10 years old (T2) and again 2 (T3) and 4 (T4) years later. Mothers reported on their expression of positive and negative dominant emotion. Mothers and teachers reported on children's effortful control and externalizing and internalizing problem behaviors. In structural equation models, variables exhibited consistency over time. Further, the relation between mothers' expressivity (positive minus negative dominant emotion) at T2 and children's externalizing problems at T4 was mediated by T3 effortful control. The same process of mediation was significant for teacher- but not mother-reported internalizing problems. The results provide one explanation for how emotion-related socializing behaviors influence children's problem behaviors.

Effects of Family Risk Factors on Dosage and Efficacy of a Family-centered Preventive Intervention for Rural African Americans

This study was designed to test hypotheses about family risk factors and their links to dosage and efficacy of a family-centered preventive intervention. Participants were 172 families with an 11 year-old child randomly assigned to the intervention condition in the Strong African American Families Program (SAAF). Two family risk factors, ratio of adults to children in the household and youth unconventionality, were negatively related to dosage, defined as number of intervention sessions attended. Dosage, in turn, was associated with changes in targeted parenting behavior across the 7 months between pretest and posttest. The effect of family risk factors on the link between program dosage and changes in parenting behavior was stronger for families experiencing more risks. The results highlight the need for engagement strategies for recruiting and retaining high-risk families in preventive interventions.

The strong African American families program: prevention of youths' high-risk behavior and a test of a model of change

In this study, the efficacy of the Strong African American Families Program (SAAF) was tested. The trial, which included 332 families, indicated that families who participated in SAAF experienced increases over time in regulated, communicative parenting; increases in targeted parenting behaviors, according to youths' reports; and low rates of high-risk behavior initiation among youths. Changes in regulated, communicative parenting mediated the intervention's impact on youths' recognition of changes in parenting, which in turn was linked to changes in youths' high-risk behavior.

Disparities Among Older Adults in Measures of Cognitive Function by Race or Ethnicity

This study examined racial or ethnic differences in cognitive function, cross-sectionally and longitudinally, using survey data from the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old. A version of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS), proxy assessments of cognition, and difficulties in performing daily tasks were assessed. Blacks performed below Whites on the TICS at baseline and on proxy assessments of cognition. TICS score declined with age for Whites and Blacks, with some relative gains for Blacks. At baseline, Blacks more often had difficulties in performing daily tasks, with some increase in difficulties relative to Whites with age. Differences between other groups and Whites were smaller than those between Blacks and Whites.

Longitudinal pathways to psychological adjustment among Black youth living in single-parent households

A 5-wave model linking family and maternal functioning to youth psychological adjustment was tested with 139 single-mother-headed African American families with young adolescents (mean age = 11 years at recruitment) living in the rural South. Structural equation modeling indicated that an accumulation of family risk factors at Wave 1 was linked with maternal psychological functioning at Wave 2, which forecast competence-promoting parenting practices at Wave 3. These parenting practices indirectly forecast youth externalizing and internalizing behaviors 2 years later at Wave 5, through youth self-regulation at Wave 4. The hypothesized model was retested, controlling for Wave 1 youth externalizing and internalizing behaviors. All paths remained significant, indicating that the model accounted for change in youth psychological adjustment across 4 years.

Temperament and adolescent substance use: a transactional analysis of emerging self-control

Presented is a conceptual framework linking the construct of temperament with environmental factors that covary with the onset and escalation of substance use. We propose that transactions between temperament characteristics of the child in family and peer contexts influence the development of self-control ability, a mediating factor for onset and possible transition to abuse in later adolescence. Risk-promoting dimensions may influence the emergence of self-control by amplifying relationship processes that detract from competence development. Emergence of good self-control can serve as a resilience factor and is linked with health-promoting cognitions. We also suggest that temperament and self-control moderate links between parenting, peer associations, and substance use. Implications of the transactional model for clinical intervention and research are discussed.