Experiencing the relationship with a sibling coping with mental health problems: Dilemmas of connection, communication, and role

The psychosocial stressors of siblings of people with experiences of psychosis (SOPEP): A systematic narrative review across cultures

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to synthesise the psychosocial stressors of siblings of people with experiences of psychosis (SOPEP). Understanding the specific needs of siblings across diverse cultures would help mental health services to provide culturally specific psychosocial family and sibling-centred support. This may result in improved relationships between families, better psychosocial well-being for siblings and better outcomes for patients.

METHODS

Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted to explore the psychosocial stressors of SOPEP. Six databases were utilised to identify literature using qualitative methodology.

RESULTS

Twenty-two studies were included that investigated the Psychosocial Stressors of SOPEP. SOPEP's experiences were influenced by various stages: individual factors, social factors, physical and macro-level environments. Six key components contributed to SOPEP's psychosocial stressors and facilitated or hindered their intentions, behaviours and experiences of caregiving. These were the SOPEP's beliefs about psychosis, caregiving beliefs, family and cultural values, personality traits, pragmatic challenges and access to resources.

CONCLUSIONS

Globally, SOPEP and families may benefit from their involvement in family interventions and individual support that facilitates caregiving and acknowledges their responsibilities, resources, psychosocial needs and emotional experiences.

Filling the Void: The Role of Adult Siblings Caring for a Brother or Sister With Severe Mental Illness

Little is known about the role of adult siblings’ caregiver role within the context of mental illness. Therefore, our purpose was to explore how siblings narrate their experiences of being the main caregivers of a brother or sister with severe mental illness and how they cooperate with their ill sibling and their family of origin. We used a narrative hermeneutic approach and performed a secondary analysis of two interviews of siblings derived from a study of peoples’ experiences of hearing voices. The findings illuminate the participants’ multifaceted roles and how differently siblings might deal with the multiple challenges of caring for an ill sibling. The mediating role between their ill sibling and their family of origin to reestablish the broken family bonds was a significant aspect. Nurses’ awareness of the important and multidimensional role of caregiving siblings can improve the provision of family support and promote involvement of siblings in the treatment of an ill family member.

Non-psychopathology Related Outcomes Among Siblings of Individuals with Mental Illness: A Systematic Review

The current study consists of a systematic review of the quantitative literature on siblings of individuals with mental illness (MI). Despite the prevalence of mental illness, little is known about how siblings are specifically affected in areas of psychosocial, emotional, and behavioral outcomes. The review yielded 56 studies that examined outcomes such as behavior problems, the sibling relationship, caregiving experiences, and knowledge of mental illness among siblings. The majority of studies from the initial search were focused on siblings-as-comparison group, examining siblings for risk factors for developing mental illness. In total, the study samples covered a sibling age range of 6-81 and a patient age range of 4-84. About half (k = 27) of the included studies had samples primarily composed of siblings of individuals with schizophrenia, leaving other MI diagnoses such as depression, anxiety, and mood disorders underrepresented. However, results from comparison studies were mixed-half found that the MI-Sibs had fewer negative outcomes than the comparison group, and half found that MI-Sibs had more negative outcomes. Multiple factors, including female sibling gender, greater severity of MI symptoms, and belief in the patient's ability to control their own behavior, were all related to more negative outcomes for MI-Sibs. Future work will focus on expanding the representativeness of MI-Sibs samples and analyzing experiences of both the sibling and the individual with MI.