Support group programme for siblings of children with special needs: predictors of improved emotional and behavioural functioning

Abstract

Purpose: A pilot study to identify the predictors of improvement in emotional and behavioural functioning of siblings of children with special needs following participation in SibworkS, a six-week manual-based, cognitive–behavioural group programme.

Method: Data from 36 participants from a recent evaluation of the SibworkS programme was used. Measures were administered pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention and three months post-intervention. Treatment effects were measured using change scores for siblings on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire – Parent Version (SDQ). Seven predictors were analysed: symptom severity of the child with special needs, participant age and gender, sibling birth order, family socio-economic status, participant baseline SDQ score and participant use of additional support services.

Results: The overall model significantly predicted change in SDQ scores at post-intervention and follow-up (adjusted R² = 0.41 and 0.40). At both evaluation points, SDQ change scores were significantly predicted by baseline SDQ score. Furthermore, symptom severity of the child with special needs was a significant predictor at three months post-intervention.

Conclusions: Poorer emotional and behavioural functioning among participants and symptom severity of the child with special needs were associated with greater intervention effects. These results indicate that SibworkS is likely to be beneficial for siblings who have difficulties adjusting, and siblings of children with more severe special needs.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Siblings of children with disability are at increased risk of emotional and behavioural difficulties.

• Sibworks is a manualised group-based intervention for the siblings of children with a disability.

• Poorer emotional and behavioural functioning among participants and symptom severity of the child with special needs were associated with greater intervention effects.

• SibworkS is likely to be beneficial for siblings who have difficulties adjusting and siblings of children with more severe disabilities.

Keywords:

• Adjustment
• autism
• children
• emotional
• siblings
• special needs

Declaration of interest

This work was supported by a Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation Grant 13685. RG was supported by the Victorian Governments’ Operational Infrastructure Support Programme, and an MCRI Career Development Award. The authors of this manuscript have no conflicts of interest to declare with the exception of K Strohm who is an author of the SibworkS programme. Profits from the sale of the programme go to Siblings Australia: K Strohm is the Executive Director.

Notes

¹ The diagnosis of the child with special needs is another likely predictor of treatment outcomes. Investigation was beyond the scope of the current paper due to the relative homogeneity of diagnoses in the sample.