الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract The sibling relationship is usually the first, most intense, and longest peer relation that an individual will ever have. Therefore, having a brother/sister with terminal illness poses a risk to the siblings’ mental health because of the stress they are under and insufficient support from others. Aim: This study aimed to assess post-traumatic stress symptomatology and psychological functioning in siblings of terminally ill children in Ismailia city. Design: descriptive correlational design was adopted for this study. Sample: purposeful sample of eighty one sibling of children with terminal illness and their mothers. Tool of data collection: the data was gathered through structured interview where the tool was divided into two parts: the first part includes: demographic characteristics of the studied subject ,and the second part includes three adopted tools: (I) The Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS), (II) Beck Youth Inventory (BYI) (Second edition), (III) Achenbach’s Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Results: All siblings of children with terminal illness in this study have met criteria of post-traumatic stress symptomatology (PTSS) and nearly half of them had severe symptoms. In addition, the highest percentage of them had much lower than average self-concept, severe anxiety and depressive symptoms, average anger and disruptive behavior symptoms, and clinical range of the internalized, externalized and total problem. Also, there was a significant relation between the siblings’ PTSS and their self-concept, anxiety, depression, and internalizing and total problems.Conclusion: Siblings of children with terminal illness are at substantial risk for PTSS, depression, anxiety, low self-cocept, internalizing, externalizing, and total problems. Recommendation: Create supporting groups for siblings as an ongoing service where siblings of children with terminal illness have an opportunity to meet with others in a similar situation and share their experiences and feelings. |