Disorder Type and Severity as Predictors of Mental Health in Siblings of Children with Chronic Disorders.

Siblings of children with chronic disorders are at risk of developing mental health problems. Studies are inconclusive about whether sibling mental health is best predicted by the specific diagnoses of the child with disorder or by transdiagnostic factors. The aims of the present study were (1) to e...

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Published in:Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders Vol. 56; no. 7; pp. 2803 - 2815
Main Authors: Fredriksen, Trude, Orm, Stian, Prentice, Caitlin M., Kirchhofer, Solveig, Zahl, Erica, Botta, Matteo, Vatne, Torun M., Fjermestad, Krister W.
Format: research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Springer Nature Jul2026
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jul2026
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      pub: Springer Nature
      place: New York, New York
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        10.1007/s10803-025-06771-6
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        atl: Disorder Type and Severity as Predictors of Mental Health in Siblings of Children with Chronic Disorders.
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          Fredriksen, Trude
          Orm, Stian
          Prentice, Caitlin M.
          Kirchhofer, Solveig
          Zahl, Erica
          Botta, Matteo
          Vatne, Torun M.
          Fjermestad, Krister W.
        affil: https://ror.org/02kn5wf75 Innlandet Hospital Trust, Po Box 104, 2381, Brumunddal, Norway
      sug:
        subj:
          Chronic Disease
          Mental Disorders Diagnosed in Childhood
          Severity of Illness
          Mental Disorders Risk Factors
          Mental Disorders Risk Factors
          Siblings Psychosocial Factors
          Risk Assessment
          Human
          Child
          Adolescence
          Adult
          Middle Age
          Aged
          Male
          Female
          Funding Source
          Cross Sectional Studies
          Descriptive Statistics
          International Classification of Diseases
          Asperger Syndrome
          Autism Spectrum Disorder
          Down Syndrome
          Fathers Psychosocial Factors
          Mothers Psychosocial Factors
          Internalizing Behavior
          Externalizing Behavior
          Mental Health
          Internal Consistency
          Questionnaires
          Checklists
          Linear Regression
          Sociodemographic Factors
          Data Analysis Software
          Test-Retest Reliability
          Concurrent Validity
          Child: 6-12 years
          Adolescent: 13-18 years
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Aged: 65+ years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Siblings of children with chronic disorders are at risk of developing mental health problems. Studies are inconclusive about whether sibling mental health is best predicted by the specific diagnoses of the child with disorder or by transdiagnostic factors. The aims of the present study were (1) to examine if specific diagnoses predicted sibling mental health, and (2) to examine if disorder severity in the child with the chronic disorder predicted sibling mental health. Baseline data from a randomized controlled trial were used. Siblings (aged 8 – 16 years) of children with chronic disorders and their parents were recruited from eight municipality and hospital clinics (N = 288). The children with chronic disorders were placed in ICD-10 diagnostic categories based on combined parent report and clinical records. Regression analyses with the most frequent primary diagnoses (ADHD, Asperger syndrome, autism, down syndrome, rare disorders) and a measure of disorder severity as predictors of sibling mental health were run. Father-reported disorder severity predicted sibling-reported internalizing problems and father-reported internalizing and externalizing problems in siblings. Mother-reported disorder severity predicted mother-reported sibling internalizing problems. No single primary diagnosis predicted sibling internalizing or externalizing problems. Disorder severity does to an extent predict sibling mental health, whereas single diagnostic categories do not. Disorder severity may be used to identify siblings at risk and/or in need of interventions. Fathers should be included in assessment and health care for siblings as their reports seem to predict sibling mental health better than the mothers.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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