Date of Award

1994

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

Psychology

Keywords

Psychology, Clinical.

Supervisor

Hakim-Larson, J.

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

In this study, the behavioural problems and coping skills of adolescent siblings of cancer patients were examined. In addition, the amount of information received by subjects regarding the ill sibling's condition, and the amount of change and negative affect experienced by subjects since their siblings' diagnosis of cancer were examined. Six male and nine female subjects from 12 to 18 years of age were included. Six self-report measures were used. Mothers completed the following three measures: the Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach, 1991), the Parent/Well Sibling Communication Measure (Cohen, Friedrich, Copeland, & Pendergrass, 1989), and a Family History Form. Adolescent subjects completed the following three measures: the Youth Self-Report (Achenbach, 1991), the Ways of Coping Measure (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984), and a Sibling Questionnaire. The results did not support the hypothesis that adolescent siblings of cancer patients exhibit higher rates of behaviour problems and lower rates of social competence than normative samples. The hypothesis that siblings would report more Internalizing than Externalizing symptoms was also not supported. The hypothesis that parents would report different types of symptoms and different levels of social competence than adolescent siblings would report was supported. Some support was provided for the hypothesis that behaviour problems are related to coping skills. No support was provided for the hypothesis that adolescents who receive a high amount of information regarding their ill sibling's condition would show a different pattern of coping skills than those siblings receiving little information. Such findings may have been due to the study's small sample size. Implications of the current results and suggestions for future research were also provided. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 33-04, page: 1342. Adviser: Julie Hakim-Larson. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1994.

Download

Share

COinS