Sibling Death and Adult Maladjustment Indices: A Brief Report

ABSTRACT

While symptoms of grief pose the most immediate psychological concern in the aftermath of sibling death, emerging research suggests that distal correlates may include strained interpersonal relations and externalized forms of psychological distress. College students with a history of Sibling Loss (n = 36), Parental Loss (n = 32), or No Loss (n = 367) were compared on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2). Sibling Loss was associated with higher Psychopathic Deviate (Pd; d = .62) and Hypomania (d = .42) scores. The relative risk (RR = 2.96) of a Pd elevation (T > 65) was higher after sibling death.

KEYWORDS:

• Sibling bereavement
• parental bereavement
• MMPI-2
• imperturbability
• social anxiety

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alek E. Haugen

Alek E. Haugen is a senior psychology major at the University of North Dakota. Her research interests include the developmental effects of childhood trauma with a particular emphasis on the role of socioeconomic conditions.

Jonathan R. Preszler

Jonathan R. Preszler is a graduate student in clinical psychology at Washington State University. His research interests include oppositional defiant disorder, ADHD, and psychometrics.

Matthew L. Cookman

Matthew L. Cookman is a senior psychology major at the University of North Dakota. His research interests include addictive processes (including gambling), mood disturbance, and maladaptive personality development.

Alan R. King

Alan R. King is a full professor at the University of North Dakota. He earned his PhD in clinical psychology from Louisiana State University in 1984. His research interests include childhood maltreatment, trauma, personality development, and aggression.