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Personal Loss in Well Siblings of Adults with Serious Mental Illness: Implications for Caregiving, Growth, and Sibling Needs

Leith, Jaclyn E.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1308104801

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, Psychology/Clinical.
Using a sample of 103 well-siblings of adults with serious mental illness, the present study examined the relative contribution of well siblings’ demographic factors, reports of ill sibling illness severity levels, experiences of meaning-making coping processes (positive reappraisals, emotional processing) and personal loss in describing variation in reports of current and future caregiving, growth, and prioritization of self-care and sibling care needs. It was hypothesized that meaning-making coping and personal loss would each predict a significant portion of the variance in scores of caregiving, growth, and prioritization of sibling needs. The sample was recruited through study announcements placed on websites related to mental illness as well as through telephone and email contact with support group facilitators and leaders of chapters of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Five significant hierarchical regression models emerged from the data. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicate that perceived personal loss was the strongest predictor of well-siblings’ reports of current caregiving and ambivalence toward self-care and sibling needs. Results also showed that well siblings endorsement of meaning-making coping processes contributed to the prediction of stress-related growth and balance between self-care and sibling needs. Well sibling demographics (i.e., age, gender, support group affiliation) and ratings of sibling illness severity contributed to the prediction of some aspects of well sibling experiences. Findings highlight the importance of well siblings’ perceptions of personal loss due to mental illness and meaning-making coping as constructs that may have powerful implications for clinical intervention. Implications of the present study for future research and action are discussed.
Catherine Stein, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Kenneth Pargament, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Jennifer Gillespie, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
107 p.
Clinical Psychology
serious mental illness; family; sibling; personal loss; meaning

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Leith, J. E. (2011). Personal Loss in Well Siblings of Adults with Serious Mental Illness: Implications for Caregiving, Growth, and Sibling Needs [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1308104801

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Leith, Jaclyn. Personal Loss in Well Siblings of Adults with Serious Mental Illness: Implications for Caregiving, Growth, and Sibling Needs. 2011. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1308104801.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Leith, Jaclyn. "Personal Loss in Well Siblings of Adults with Serious Mental Illness: Implications for Caregiving, Growth, and Sibling Needs." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1308104801

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.