Attitudes and Emotions of Orthodox Jews Who Have Siblings with Disabilities: Religious Correlates and Social Context

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on demographic, environmental, and interpersonal factors that account for some of the attitudes toward, the experiences with, and emotional reactions to siblings with disabilities in the Orthodox Jewish community. Of 500 people contacted who had siblings with developmental disabilities, 73 respondents completed packets that included background information, questionnaire responses, and psychological scales measuring emotional sensitivity. Correlates of feelings toward G-d, stigma, self-esteem, and emotional effects were explored. Results are discussed in the context of the sociology of the family in Orthodox Judaism as it affects attitudes toward people with disabilities. ¹

KEYWORDS:

• siblings with disabilities
• Orthodox Jews
• feelings toward G-d
• stigma
• emotional effects
• self-esteem

Robert M. Beren Academy Jewish Day School, Houston, TX, and works at the Hebrew Academy for Special Children (HASC) summer program, Parksville, NY;

Notes

∗Because some respondents chose more than one option, percentages are not presented.

∗p < .05;

∗∗p < .01.

∗∗∗p < .001; FOEAS, Family of Origin Expressive Atmosphere Scale; TAS-20, 20-item version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale.

∗∗p < .01;

∗p < .05; FOEAS, Family of Origin Expressive Atmosphere Scale; TAS-20, 20-item version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale.

1. The data on which this article is based are from a large multi-pronged study that examined the determinants of alexithymia, disposition toward genetic testing, and disability-related attitudes. This article focuses on the data that are relevant to the attitudes and emotions of siblings of people with disabilities.