Lecciso Flavia, Martis Chiara, Antonioli Giuseppe, Levante Annalisa
Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Salento, Via di Valesio, Lecce, Italy.
Lab of Applied Psychology, Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Salento, Via di Valesio, Lecce, Italy.
Front Psychol. 2025 May 7;16:1551953. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1551953. eCollection 2025.
Building on Bowlby's attachment theory and Marvin and Pianta's framework, the current study investigated the role of the resolution of the diagnosis as a potential protective factor in shaping the quality of affective sibling relationships. The study examined whether the typically developing (TD) siblings' resolution of the diagnosis of their brother/sister with a disability would predict the quality of their affective relationship in terms of closeness, conflict, jealousy, self-marginalization, and worry (HP1). The potential predictive role of parental resolution on typically developing sibling resolution has been investigated (HP2). In addition, we explored whether being an older . younger typically developing sibling would impact the resolution of the diagnosis and the quality of the affective sibling relationship.
A total of 365 parent-sibling dyads [parents: () = 51.2 (6.95) years, age range = 25-64 years; mothers = 78.4%; TD siblings: () = 23.2 (3.60) years, age range = 18-39 years; females = 53.7%] from families of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders or physical disabilities filled out the e-survey (CE n° 92,949/2,023).
The results supported both hypotheses, highlighting the potential protective role of typically developing siblings' resolution of the diagnosis in fostering high-quality sibling relationships in terms of high closeness and low conflict, jealousy, self-marginalization, and worry. In addition, parental resolution of the diagnosis emerged as a potential predictor of typically developing siblings' resolution, supporting the intergenerational transmission of internal working models. Regarding the research question (RQ), younger typically developing siblings reported higher resolution scores than their older counterparts, suggesting that typically developing sibling birth order may shape the reaction to the diagnosis process.
The results underscored the importance of systemic interventions that devote attention not only to parental resolution but also to that of typically developing siblings. Future research should deepen the role played by socio-demographic factors and long-term outcomes on typically developing siblings' mental health and caregiving duties.
基于鲍尔比的依恋理论以及马文和皮亚塔的框架，本研究调查了诊断结果的解决作为一种潜在保护因素在塑造情感性手足关系质量方面所起的作用。该研究考察了发育正常（TD）的手足对其残疾兄弟姐妹诊断结果的解决是否会在亲密程度、冲突、嫉妒、自我边缘化和担忧方面预测他们情感关系的质量（假设1）。已对父母对诊断结果的解决对发育正常的手足解决结果的潜在预测作用进行了调查（假设2）。此外，我们探讨了作为年龄较大/较小的发育正常的手足是否会影响诊断结果的解决以及情感性手足关系的质量。
来自患有神经发育障碍或身体残疾个体家庭的365对亲子手足二元组[父母：（平均年龄）=51.2（6.95）岁，年龄范围=25 - 64岁；母亲占78.4%；发育正常的手足：（平均年龄）=23.2（3.60）岁，年龄范围=18 - 39岁；女性占53.7%]填写了电子调查问卷（CE编号92,949/2,023）。
结果支持了两个假设，突出了发育正常的手足对诊断结果的解决在促进高质量手足关系方面的潜在保护作用，即高亲密程度和低冲突、嫉妒、自我边缘化及担忧。此外，父母对诊断结果的解决成为发育正常的手足解决结果的潜在预测因素，支持了内部工作模型的代际传递。关于研究问题，年龄较小的发育正常的手足报告的解决得分高于年龄较大的手足，这表明发育正常的手足出生顺序可能会影响对诊断过程的反应。
结果强调了系统性干预的重要性，这种干预不仅要关注父母对诊断结果的解决，还要关注发育正常的手足对诊断结果的解决。未来的研究应深入探讨社会人口因素和长期结果对发育正常的手足心理健康及照顾责任所起的作用。
