Social and Emotional Ramifications of Having a Sibling with a Disability

Abstract

The existing body of literature surrounding adults who have a sibling with a disability is limited and suggests there may be some differences in outcomes of their adult life when compared to peers who do not have a sibling with a disability. Areas where differences exist include marital and employment status, educational achievement (from less than a high school equivalent to a professional degree), and characteristics associated with emotional resiliency (Hodapp, et al., 2010; Wolfe, et al., 2014). Additionally, gender may be a contributing factor in how the experience impacts the adult without a disability (Hodapp, et al., 2010). This study utilized an online survey to examine the potential ramifications of family members with siblings with disabilities as compared to those without disabilities. Results indicate that marital and employment status have no difference, but there is a distinction in educational achievement and self-perceived emotional resilience characteristics. Additionally, gender does not have an impact on the sibling relationship. Potential areas for interventions and future research are discussed.