Siblings of a Child with a Serious Disease: Educational Family Guidelines for Developing the Emotional Health of This Minority Group
Author(s)
Olga Lizasoain
ABSTRACT
Diagnosis of a serious disease in childhood is a traumatic experience, not only for the sick child but also for those living in the same environment. The family life changes drastically, and the family members go through a period of time which is both hard and full of the unknown. Fear, confusion, anger and sadness will be the principal feelings present in each one of the family members. The sick child becomes the central focus of attention at the expense of the other children in the family, children who now take a secondary role, shifting into the background. Therefore, it is very important to offer support and give special care to these other children, not excluding them from everything that is occurring in the family. This article focuses on the feelings experienced by these group of siblings. The adaptation process when facing this difficult situation will be analyzed and educational guidelines which can help the family manage the emotional impact made by the serious disease will be offered, putting special emphasis on communication.
Diagnosis of a serious disease in childhood is a traumatic experience, not only for the sick child but also for those living in the same environment. The family life changes drastically, and the family members go through a period of time which is both hard and full of the unknown. Fear, confusion, anger and sadness will be the principal feelings present in each one of the family members. The sick child becomes the central focus of attention at the expense of the other children in the family, children who now take a secondary role, shifting into the background. Therefore, it is very important to offer support and give special care to these other children, not excluding them from everything that is occurring in the family. This article focuses on the feelings experienced by these group of siblings. The adaptation process when facing this difficult situation will be analyzed and educational guidelines which can help the family manage the emotional impact made by the serious disease will be offered, putting special emphasis on communication.
Cite this paper
Lizasoain, O. (2015) Siblings of a Child with a Serious Disease: Educational Family Guidelines for Developing the Emotional Health of This Minority Group. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 3, 56-60. doi: 10.4236/jss.2015.38005.
Lizasoain, O. (2015) Siblings of a Child with a Serious Disease: Educational Family Guidelines for Developing the Emotional Health of This Minority Group. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 3, 56-60. doi: 10.4236/jss.2015.38005.
References
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[1] Hancock, L. (2011) The Camp Experience for Siblings of Pediatric Cancer Patients. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 28, 137-142. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1043454211408102 [2] Coyne, I., Aislinn, A., Ciernan, G. and Gibson, F. (2014) Children’s Participation in Shared Decision-Making: Children, Adolescents, Parents and Healthcare Professionals’ Perspectives and Experiences. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 18, 273-280. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2014.01.006 [3] Scott, J.T., Prictor, M., Harmsen, M., Broom, A., Entwistle, V.A., Sowden, A.J. and Watt I. (2003) Interventions for Improving Communication with Children and Adolescents about a family Member’s Cancer. The Cochrane Library, 4, 1-25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd004511 [4] Barrera, M., Fleming, C.F. and Khan, F.S. (2004) The Role of Emotional Social Support in the Psychological Adjust- ment of Siblings of Children with Cancer. Child: Care, Healt & Development, 30, 103-111. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2003.00396.x [5] Wilkins, K. and Woodgate, R. (2005) A Review of Qualitative Research on the Childhood Cancer Experience from the Perspective of Siblings: A Need to Give Them a Voice. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 22, 305-19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1043454205278035 [6] Prchal, A. and Landolt, M.A. (2012) How Siblings of Pediatric Cancer Patients Experience the First Time after Diagnosis. A Qualitative Study. Cancer Nursing, 35, 133-140. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/NCC.0b013e31821e0c59 [7] Packman, W., Greenhalgh, J., Chesterman, B., Shaffer, T., Fine, J., Vanzutphen, K., Golan, R. and Amylon, M.D. (2005) Siblings of Pediatric Cancer Patients. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 23, 87-108. http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J077v23n01_06 [8] Houtzager, B.A., Grootenhuis, M.A., Caron, H.N. and Last, B.F. (2004) Quality of Life and Psychological Adaptation in Siblings of Paediatric Cancer Patients, Two Years after Diagnosis. Psycho-Oncology, 13, 499-511. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pon.759 [9] Alderfer, M.A., Long, K.A., Lown, E.A., Marsland, A.L., Ostrowski, N.L., Hock, J.M. and Ewing, L.J. (2010) Psychosocial Adjustment of Siblings of Children with Cancer: A Systematic Review. Psycho-Oncology, 19, 789-805. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pon.1638 [10] Crespo C., Santos S., Canavarro M., Kielpikowski, M., Pynor, J. and Féres-Carneiro, T. (2013) Family Routines and Rituals in the Context of Chronic Conditions: A Review. International Journal of Psychology, 48, 729-746. [11] Sidhu, R., Passmore, A. and Baker, D. (2006) The Effectiveness of a Peer Support Camp for Siblings of Children with Cancer. Pediatric Blood Cancer, 47, 580-588. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pbc.20653 [12] Houtzager, B.A., Grootenhuis, M.A., Hoekstra-Weebers, J.E.H.M. and Last, B.F. (2005) One Month after Diagnosis: Quality of Life, Coping and Previous Functioning in Siblings of Children with Cancer. Child: Care, Healt & Develop- ment, 31, 75-87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2005.00459.x [13] Liben, H. and Antonak, R. (2005) Psychosocial Adaptation to Chronic Illness and Disability. Journal of Counseling & Development, 83, 12-20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2005.tb00575.x [14] Lizasoain, O. (2014) Resilience in Children Exposed to Chronic Illness: Improving Teachers’ Actions. International Journal of Scientific Research, 3, 76-77.