Siblings of Children With a Complex Chronic Health Condition: Maternal Posttraumatic Growth as a Predictor of Changes in Child Behavior Problems

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The present study examined the role of maternal posttraumatic growth in changes in behavioral problems among the siblings of children with complex chronic health conditions. METHODS: Data were collected from a sample of 70 siblings from 58 families with at least one child diagnosed with a life-threatening genetic, metabolic, or neurological condition. Every 6 months for up to 4 years, sibling behavior problems were assessed through both parent-reports and youth self-reports. At each visit, mothers also completed self-reports of posttraumatic growth. RESULTS: Time-lagged multilevel regression analyses revealed that higher levels of maternal posttraumatic growth predicted subsequent declines in parent-reported internalizing, externalizing, and total behavior problems among healthy siblings. These findings were partially replicated using youth self-reports of their own behavior problems. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the benefits of posttraumatic growth may extend beyond the self to other family members, particularly to children in the family.