Bibliographies
The following bibliography has been compiled from the Australian Family & Society Abstracts database and other resources held in the Institute's library. Where available a link to the document on the Web is provided. Most items can be borrowed from the Institute's library via the inter library loan system. Online publications in PDF format require Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Siblings
Beyond
the double edged sword: the contradictory experiences
of biological children in foster families.
Nuske,
Elaine Mary
In: Building
stronger families: Conference on International Research
Perspectives on Child and Family Welfare, Mackay,
Queensland, 6-8 August 2004: conference papers.
Mackay, Qld: Centre for Research on Community
and Children's Services, 2004, 21p, Online (PDF
77K)
This research project
interviewed 22 young people, between nine and 30 years
of age, who lived as the biological children
within foster homes. The participants discuss:
sharing and losing; being responsible and escaping;
caring and resenting; being independent and belonging;
having stability and living with change; shouting
and keeping quiet. The paper includes a series
of questions for foster parents and workers to
strengthen foster families.
Children's perceptions of their sibling relationships during
prenatal separation and divorce.
Sheehan, Grania;
Darlington, Yvonne; Noller, Patricia; Feeney, Judith
Journal of
Divorce < Remarriage v.41 no.1 - no.2 2004: 69-94,
tables
Does parental separation and divorce influence children's experiences of
their sibling relationship? This article uses first wave data from a
longitudinal study that investigated sibling relationships and adolescent
adjustment to parental divorce. It tests the hypothesis that a highly
stressful home environment may cause siblings to become closer than they
otherwise would have. The article discusses types of sibling
relationships in divorced and married families, differences between
married and divorced families, separation and divorce as a catalyst for
change in the nature of the sibling relationship, and implications for
practice.
Comparison and competition in young adult
sibling relationships: an attachment perspective.
Noller, P; Conway, S; Blakeley-Smith, A; Beach, S
University of
Queensland Family Centre Newsletter no.2 Aug 2001: 10-11, and Online
(whole issue)
The aim of the research reported in this
article was to explore the effects of competition and comparison on adult
sibling relationships. A secondary goal was to explore the links between
insecure attachment, and reactions to comparison and competition in adult
sibling relationships. The authors looked at age differences and gender
differences in this study.
Everyday learning about brothers and sisters.
Mackey, Gerrie
Watson, ACT: Early Childhood Australia, 2005, 18p
(Everyday learning v.3 no.2)
What can parents do to make the
addition of a new baby to the family a positive experience for toddlers
and preschoolers? This book offers practical advice for parents, covering
topics such as what to before the baby comes home, ways to help the
toddler accept the baby, dealing with sibling rivalry, coping with a
disabled sibling, when to seek help. It includes a list of books to read
to children.
Facilitator manual: groups for siblings of children with
special needs.
Nesa, Monique; Strohm, Kate
Adelaide,
SA; Siblings Australia, 2005, 130p
Siblings of children with
disabilities may be at greater risk of developing emotional and
behavioural problems than other children. This manual presents a support
program, Groups for Siblings of Children with Special Needs, devised for
8 to 12 year old siblings. It discusses sibling relationships, concerns
of siblings and positive effects siblings may gain from having a brother
or sister with special needs. It outlines the following aspects of the
program design: program principles, program location, group composition,
group leaders and co facilitator responsibilities. It explains principles
of group work, group formats, promoting group cohesiveness, and managing
disruptive behaviour. The manual is accompanied by a booklet for group
participants.
Participant booklet for 8-12 year old siblings of children
with special needs.
Nesa, Monique; Strohm, Kate
Adelaide, SA: Siblings Australia, 2005, 36p
Having a brother
or sister with a disability can sometimes be an extra challenge. This
booklet is designed to be used with the program Groups for Siblings of
Children with Special Needs. It has exercises that deal with getting to
know the people in the group, differences and similarities among
siblings, support networks, problem solving, wiping out worries, and
leaving the group stronger and supported. An accompanying facilitator
manual has been indexed separately.
Sibling dilution hypothesis: a regression surface
analysis.
Marjoribanks, K
Psychological Reports v.89
no.1 Aug 2001: 33-40, tables, figures
The sibling resource
dilution hypothesis proposes that sibling variables, for example the
number of children in a family and birth order, are related to the
cultural and material resources that parents provide for their children.
The hypothesis further suggests that the greater the number of children
that there are in a family or the later their position in a family, the
more children have to share in family resources and therefore the lower
their performance will be on those outcomes influenced by diluted family
resources. In this study, the author examined the relationship between
the number of children in a family, birth order and measures of academic
performance, academic self concept and educational aspirations at
different levels of family educational resources. The investigation,
however, provided only partial support for the sibling dilution
hypothesis.
Sibling effects, environmental influences, and university
attendance: a follow-up study.
Marjoribanks, Kevin
Psychological Reports v.95 no.3 part 2 Dec 2004: 1267-1270, tables
This study, which examines relations between sibling variables
(number of children in the family, birth order position), and university
attendance, is a follow up to a 2002 study that examined relations among
sibling variables, environmental influences and school dropout. The
study, which uses data from the Longitudinal Survey of Australian Youth
(LSAY), also takes into account differences in family social class,
ethnicity and family and school learning environments. Findings indicate
that young adults from Asian, Middle Eastern and middle class families
were less likely to drop out of school and more likely to attend a
university than were young Australians from Anglo- Australian, English,
European and working class backgrounds. And secondly, that after taking
into account differences in family background and learning environment
measures, there continued to be a small but significant relationship
between the number of children in a family, birth order position, and the
likelihood that young people would drop out of school or attend
university.
Sibling project report 2001.
Strohm, K
North Adelaide SA: Sibling Project, Department of Psychological Medicine,
Women's and Children's Hospital, 2002, 5p
The name of this
project has changed from the South Australian Sibling Project to the
Sibling Project in order to represent its increasing national focus. This
report presents the activities of the Sibling Project in 2001. The
project was established in 1999 to develop and coordinate services for
siblings of people with disabilities or chronic illness. During 2001 the
Project supported family-centred care and inclusion of siblings for
families with a disabled child, and support to family service providers.
The Project also prepared a website, to host information, resources and
opportunities for peer support.
Sibling project.
Strohm, K
Youth Studies
Australia v.20 no.4 Dec 2001: 48-52
A project in South
Australia is pioneering the provision of services for siblings of
children with disabilities or chronic illness. This paper argues that
services provided to these families need to be more family centred,
involving a shift from the traditional 'professional as expert' model,
and recognising that families have much to contribute when decisions are
being made. By focusing on family strengths, service providers can
assist families to feel more competent and able to support all members of
the family.
Sibling relationships of anxious children: a preliminary
investigation.
Fox, T L; Barrett, P M; Shortt, A L
Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology v.31 no.3 Sept 2002:
375-383
Researchers now view sibling relationships as one of
the most potentially important influences on a child's development. They
can protect against or increase chances of depression, antisocial and
other externalising disorders. Research into child anxiety has largely
focussed on the child and the parents, rather than looking separately at
sibling relationships. The authors present findings of a study into the
sibling relationships of anxious children. Some behaviours analysed
include: degrees of warmth and closeness; conflict, status and power;
hostility; control of sibling; and task maintenance.
Supporting siblings within families to reduce problematic
youth substance use and prevent youth homelessness.
Cernaz, J; Toumbourou, J W; Hodges, C
Parity v.14 no.8 Sept 2001:
p67-69
The authors discuss the development of services that
consider the role of family support in the prevention and treatment of
substance abuse among young people. They describe the Sibling Peer
Support Project which was run by the Centre for Adolescent Health in
collaboration with the North East Drug and Alcohol Service. The project
established peer support groups with the aims of reducing isolation,
developing problem solving skills, providing accurate information about
substance abuse, minimising harm and gaining information on the impact on
siblings of substance use. The authors' experience with the project
suggested that important early intervention and treatment opportunities
can be gained through appropriate service delivery to siblings. They
consider that by extending family services to include the needs of
siblings substance abuse may be reduced and family connections
strengthened, thus helping to reduce youth homelessness.
Supporting siblings: when a brother or sister has a
disability of a chronic illness.
Smith, Miranda; Lloyd,
Mary
Armadale, Vic: Association for Children with a Disability,
2003, 47p
Current research into the experiences of siblings
of children with a disability or a chronic illness is outlined in this
report. The first section of the report, 'Sibling experiences from
childhood to adolescence', covers emotional and behavioural responses of
siblings described with the context of various stages of child
development. In the second section, 'Family and social influences on
sibling adjustment', sibling experiences within the context of the family
and social environment are explored.
The forgotten siblings.
Young, Sally
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy v.28 no.1 Mar 2007:
21-27
In this article the author argues that the qualities
and dynamics of sibling relationships may have been overlooked in family
therapy. Sibling relationships are a significant feature in the
emotional life of children, where children practise identity and can
learn how to be one in a group. The author concludes that family therapy
treatment may not make enough use of the dynamic of the sibling
relationship. (Journal abstract, edited)
The importance of sibling
relationships.
Conway, S
University of
Queensland Family Centre Newsletter no.3 Nov 2002: 2 and Online (whole
issue)
Discussing the sibling relationship as pivotal in the
development of how people relate to others, the author relates the
outcomes of a research project that investigated the negative emotions
associated with sibling rivalry and the effects this may have in later
years.
The sudden and unexpected death of a sibling and its impact
on surviving children and adolescents: a family perspective.
Biggs, C T
Grief Matters v.5 no.2 Winter 2002: 31-34
When a child dies suddenly and unexpectedly, so shocking and painful is
the loss that grief devastates the family and threatens to tear it apart.
The way that surviving children and adolescents grieve cannot be
understood without examining the impact of such a loss on the whole
family. This paper examines the effect of such a death on the family
system and its parental, marital, sibling and parent-child subsystems.
The review of the literature suggests that openly expressing thoughts and
feelings, tolerating different grieving styles, remaining flexible, and
caring and supporting one another enable a family to live with the change
the death inflicts on their lives. (Journal abstract)
Why first borns rule the world and last borns want to change
it.
Grose, M
Milsons Point, NSW: Random House
Australia, 2003, 200p
A child's position in his or her family
impacts on the child's personality, behaviour, learning and even earning
capacity. The author argues that birth order theory adds a defined and
identifiable dimension to children's personality development. Birth
order theory is about understanding a child's place in the family and its
impact on their life. As well as providing an explanation concerning
birth order, this book also provides marital advice, sibling management
skills and parenting advice.