Adult Well Siblings: A Phenomenological Investigation of Their Experiences

Date of Award

Spring 6-12-2009

Document Type

Doctoral Research Paper

Degree Name

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

Organizational Unit

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

First Advisor

Judith Fox

Second Advisor

Jennifer Cornish

Third Advisor

Teresa Simoneau

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Siblings, Chronic illness, Family, Mental health

Abstract

In this qualitative study, a phenomenological approach was used to investigate the impact of growing up with a chronically ill sibling. Each subject participated in an interview focused on past, present, and future reflections of being a well sibling with regard to perceived role in their family, coping mechanisms, strengths derived from the experience, and ideas about how circumstances may have been improved while growing up. Interview analysis illuminated four themes: well sibling experience as infused into life narrative; the diagnostic context as it impacts the family's coping; appreciation of one's own health; and desire to have had more information about/more involvement with the sibling's illness. Implications for mental health practice with adult well siblings are identified and discussed.

Copyright Date

6-12-2009

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. Permanently suppressed.

Rights Holder

Keren L. Sofer

Provenance

Received from Author

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

This document is currently not available here.



Share

COinS