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    The unmet needs of siblings of children with cancer and serious chronic health conditions in Aōtearoa/New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Palmerston North, Aōtearoa/New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Armstrong, Kathleen
    There is evidence to suggest a subset of siblings of children with serious chronic health conditions have a range of unmet psychosocial needs which can lead to adjustment difficulties and mental health problems. A review of needs-based support services available to siblings in Aōtearoa/New Zealand found this is an under-serviced area. The current research aimed to identify the unmet needs of siblings of children with cancer and serious chronic health conditions and contribute to the development of targeted support services that protect and promote health and wellbeing in siblings. An online survey design was used to identify the unmet needs of siblings of children with cancer, cystic fibrosis, and Type 1 diabetes mellitus. The final sample included 204 respondents across the three health conditions (cancer: n=84, cystic fibrosis: n=47, diabetes: n=73). Quantitative results show the average percentage of unmet needs for the total sample was very high (57.8%). Of the three health conditions, cancer had the highest average percentage of unmet needs (66.3%), followed by cystic fibrosis (53.0%), then Type 1 diabetes mellitus (48.6%). Of the seven domains ‘Information about my sibling/whānau member’s health condition’ had the highest number of unmet needs. A significant difference was found between the total mean percentage scores between males and females (p=.001). A comparison of siblings in the ‘cancer’ health condition with an Australian study found the domains were strongly correlated but the New Zealand sample was systematically higher. The qualitative results showed siblings were affected negatively (and potentially long- term) from: a lack of information; feeling ‘invisible’ and forgotten; feeling guilty for being the ‘healthy’ sibling; suppression of needs; disruption to the family; a lack of peer and familial support; and additional care-giving roles. The impacts of these issues can lead to depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms and affect beliefs around self-worth. Recommendations arising from these findings point to the need for effective support for siblings including: information about their sibling’s health condition; professional support offered to them; support and understanding from peers, family and teachers; time with parents to feel valued and included; guidance on how to support their affected sibling; a safe space where they feel validated and can speak freely; and ‘time out’ with other siblings.
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    School support for siblings of patients with cancer : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Educational Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2015) Lamb, Erika
    This research project investigated the importance of providing support structures within school communities for siblings of patients diagnosed and treated for cancer. A cancer diagnosis is traumatic and devastating for the child or young person with cancer but what sometimes gets lost is the impact such a medical event can have on siblings whose need for a range of emotional, social, academic, and physical support tend to be overshadowed by the focus on the patient and how the parents/caregivers cope. Sibling members of CanTeen New Zealand (an organisation which supports young people living with cancer and their siblings) were invited to participate in a nation-wide online survey or a focus group session in Auckland, both exploring siblings’ perceptions of school based support. Both methods of data collection were created with the support of CanTeen staff and were informed by the literature surrounding support for siblings living in families affected by cancer. Participants responded to questions regarding who supported them at school, how they were supported, what they wanted members of the school community to understand, and what supports they wish had been available while they were on their cancer journey. Highlighted in the research findings were that different school communities fulfil different sibling needs, siblings’ everyday lives are disrupted by their brothers’ or sisters’ cancer diagnoses, every cancer journey is different (shaped by a sibling’s unique familial and community circumstances), and there is a need for home-school partnerships to ensure the best outcomes for siblings. By having siblings express their thoughts and feelings regarding the cancer journey in their own words, this research can provide valuable insight for schools who have students living in families affected by cancer and can act as a guide for how to best support the needs of this population.
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    My sibling and I : exploring the experiences and coping strategies of younger siblings of individuals with Down syndrome : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2014) Pumal Singh, Amarit Kaur
    Down syndrome is a lifelong condition which impacts each family member in unique ways. Yet, with numerous studies focused on parental coping, little is known about the meanings siblings attach to the relationship they share. This study aims to investigate the personal experiences and coping strategies of younger siblings of individuals with Down syndrome. Three siblings aged between 17 and 22 years were interviewed to gather data on their experiences and coping strategies. The interviews were recorded and transcribed for analysis. Data was analysed using Thematic Analysis. Findings suggest four major themes and eight emotional states. The four themes identified are Blurred ordinal roles, Growth, Coping with society’s perceptions and Future plans. The eight emotional states identified are feelings of Loss, Guilt, Uncertainty, Embarrassment, Protectiveness, Denial, Acceptance, Gratitude and Admiration. The results report an overall positive experience between siblings. Challenges related to the lack of public awareness, social stigma and functioning levels of siblings were raised. Siblings reportedly engaged in both, emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies. Variables such as family size and sibling’s level of functioning were found to account for some of the differences across the case studies. The discussion provides suggestions on the practical application of findings, limitations and recommendations for future research.