Linares L Oriana, Li MiMin, Shrout Patrick E, Brody Gene H, Pettit Gregory S
Child Study Center, New York University.
Department of Psychology, New York University.
J Fam Psychol. 2007 Dec;21(4):736-743. doi: 10.1037/0893-3200.21.4.736.
Sibling unity during family transitions is considered a protective factor for child behavior problems, but there is little empirical support for the widespread child protection policy of placing siblings together in foster care. In a prospective study of 156 maltreated children, siblings were classified in 1 of 3 placement groups: continuously together (n = 110), continuously apart (n = 22), and disrupted placement (siblings placed together were separated; n = 24). Changes in child adjustment as a function of sibling relationship and placement group were examined. Sibling positivity predicted lower child problems at follow-up (about 14 months later), while sibling negativity predicted higher child problems. Placement group did not affect child behavior problems at follow-up; however, compared to siblings in continuous placement (either together or apart), siblings in disrupted placement with high initial behavior problems were rated as having fewer problems at follow-up, while siblings in disrupted placement with low initial behavior problems were rated as having more problems at follow-up. These findings highlight the importance of considering relationships between siblings and the risk that one poses to another before early placement decisions are made.
家庭变迁期间的手足团结被视为儿童行为问题的一个保护因素，但将兄弟姐妹安置在寄养家庭中的普遍儿童保护政策几乎没有实证支持。在一项对156名受虐待儿童的前瞻性研究中，兄弟姐妹被分为三个安置组中的一组：一直在一起（n = 110）、一直分开（n = 22）以及安置中断（原本一起安置的兄弟姐妹被分开；n = 24）。研究考察了作为手足关系和安置组函数的儿童适应变化。手足间的积极态度预示着随访时（约14个月后）儿童问题较少，而手足间的消极态度预示着儿童问题较多。安置组在随访时并未影响儿童行为问题；然而，与持续安置（无论是在一起还是分开）的兄弟姐妹相比，初始行为问题高的安置中断的兄弟姐妹在随访时被评定为问题较少，而初始行为问题低的安置中断的兄弟姐妹在随访时被评定为问题较多。这些发现凸显了在做出早期安置决定之前考虑兄弟姐妹之间的关系以及一方对另一方构成的风险的重要性。
