Sibling Support for Brothers and Sisters of Amputees

In the family car, tired, hungry and bored siblings clash noisily in the back seat. From the living room, a young brother complains that he does not get as much attention and compares himself to a fifth wheel. A teen sister groans about having way too much responsibility, exclaiming that she’s too young to be the glue that holds the family together.

The family includes a child amputee, but what about his or her sibling(s)? What are their roles in this family dynamic? What about the impact on them?

These effects on siblings are contingent on interrelated factors such as gender, culture, disability type, peer relationships, family size, family functioning and connectedness, and the emotional availability of parents. Even simple things, like consistent household routines, are linked to positive outcomes.

While most siblings are well-adjusted, they may be subject to increased risk of negative externalizing and internalizing behaviours, like anxiety, depression, guilt, and lower social competence.

It has been consistently reported that sisters of children and youth with a disability are especially vulnerable to the emotional demands of the family. They also take on a more parental role compared to brothers, and account for a higher incidence of emotional problems among non-disabled siblings.