Psychological adjustment of well siblings of children with Type 1 diabetes

• Published in: Diabetic medicine Vol. 27; no. 9; pp. 1084 - 1087
• Main Authors: Sleeman, F., Northam, E. A., Crouch, W., Cameron, F. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2010; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - psychology; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Parents - psychology; psychosocial wellbeing; siblings; Siblings - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; type 1 diabetes; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Endocrinopathy; Human; Immunopathology; Obesity; siblings; psychosocial wellbeing; Nutrition; Psychology; Nutrition disorder; Autoimmune disease; Metabolic diseases; Sibling; Psychosocial factor; Type 1 diabetes; Child; Social aspect; Endocrinology; Nutritional status; Public health
• ISSN: 0742-3071; 1464-5491
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2010.03041.x

Diabet. Med. 27, 1084–1087 (2010) Aims  Studies of siblings of children with Type 1 diabetes (Type 1 DM) have shown either increased levels of maladjustment or, alternatively, increased levels of pro‐social behaviour according to whether the sibling or parent was interviewed. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychological adjustment of Type 1 DM siblings using both parent and sibling report and to assess the concordance between child and parent reports. Methods  Ninety‐nine siblings aged 11–17 years and parents of children with Type 1 DM treated at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne were recruited sequentially. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to assess well siblings’ emotional and behavioural functioning using data collected within a semi‐structured interview. SDQ data between the sibling cohort and normative data sample were compared using independent‐samples t‐tests. Sibling reports and parent reports were compared using a series of paired‐sample t‐tests and correlation analyses. Results  Type 1 DM siblings did not report greater emotional or behavioural maladjustment or more pro‐social behaviour than norms. Parents rated siblings’ pro‐social behaviour as being comparable with that of youth from the general community; however, parents rated healthy siblings as having lower levels of maladjustment; specifically, significantly fewer conduct problems, hyperactive behaviour and peer‐related problems (all P < 0.01). There were no significant differences between parent ratings and sibling ratings on peer‐related problems or pro‐social behaviour. Conclusions  Type 1 DM siblings did not report increased behavioural or emotional dysfunction relative to children in the general population and, according to their parents, were even better adjusted than their peers.