Abstract
This study examines the potential for posttraumatic growth (PTG) for siblings of persons diagnosed with a mental disorder.
Using the posttraumatic growth Inventory we compared siblings (N = 33) with a comparison group of participants who did not
experience trauma (N = 30). Our group of participants who had a sibling diagnosed with a mental disorder by a mental health
professional (N = 33) reported higher PTG scores with mostly large effect sizes on most of the inventory subscales. Participants
who took an active role in care giving experienced less PTG than participants who did not. Having a sibling diagnosed with
a mental disorder presents an opportunity to experience PTG. Implications for the therapeutic milieus are discussed.
Using the posttraumatic growth Inventory we compared siblings (N = 33) with a comparison group of participants who did not
experience trauma (N = 30). Our group of participants who had a sibling diagnosed with a mental disorder by a mental health
professional (N = 33) reported higher PTG scores with mostly large effect sizes on most of the inventory subscales. Participants
who took an active role in care giving experienced less PTG than participants who did not. Having a sibling diagnosed with
a mental disorder presents an opportunity to experience PTG. Implications for the therapeutic milieus are discussed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-6
- DOI 10.1007/s10597-012-9498-x
- Authors
- Avihay Sanders, Derner Institute for Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, 11530, USA
- Kate Szymanski, Derner Institute for Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, 11530, USA
- Journal Community Mental Health Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-2789
- Print ISSN 0010-3853