SELF-CONCEPT OF SIBLINGS OF CHILDREN WITH CANCER

Abstract

Childhood cancer can have detrimental effects on the psychosocial well-being of healthy siblings of children with cancer. The limited research done over the past 40 years has identified adjustment difficulties such as poor self-concept, depression, sorrow, anxiety, and feelings of loneliness in children who have a sibling with cancer. To date, clinical research investigating self-concept is scarce as it relates to siblings of children with cancer. The purpose of this study was to examine self-concept in siblings of children with cancer who attended summer camp. A nonprobability purposive sample consisted of 50 school-age siblings of children with cancer. Using the Personal Attribute Inventory for Children (PAIC) to measure children's selfconcept, the researcher found that healthy siblings who attended summer camp scored higher on the PAIC than healthy siblings who did not attend camp. This research suggests that social support such as a camp experience may play an important function in coping with having a brother or sister with childhood cancer.