The Lived Experience of Adolescents having Siblings with Depressive Disorders
Date Issued
2011
Date
2011
Author(s)
Hsu, Hsin-Yun
Abstract
More research has been conducted to address depressive disorders, as the number of people afflicted with the disorder around the world is rising. Going through recent studies in Taiwan, however, one can easily find the focus is rarely on the siblings of patients. Most studies only pay attention to patients and the main caregivers, often disregarding the role of healthy siblings, who in turn become ‘invisible’ in the family.
The purpose of this research is to better understand the subjective experience of healthy adolescent siblings, how they adapt to the reality that their sisters or brothers have been ill, and how the relations among siblings change. This research adopted the qualitative research method to collect information through one-on-one interviews. The participants were between 19-21 years old, and still students. The research findings were divided into five themes:
1.Adolescents are affected after knowing their siblings are afflicted with depressive disorders: Influences are both positive and negative. In terms of positive impacts, some consider themselves more mature, tolerant, and patient. On the other hand, the negative ones are mostly related to personal emotions and feelings, including huge stress, sadness, the inclination to cry, and feeling sorry for ill siblings. Some participants also admit they wake up more easily, tend to suffer from sleep discontinuance, and often feel exhausted. To get more adapted, most participants choose to talk to their family or friends, which only works in some cases. 2.The family cannot function well: The whole family is affected by the stressful atmosphere. Conflicts become usual and rules are broken. The communication within family members is limited and indirect. Resources are few, and participants rarely take part in any facet of the treatment that their ill siblings have been through. 3.Adolescents face social development crises: Participants tend to spend time accompanying and teaching ill siblings at the expense of their opportunities to take part in social activities. In addition, adolescents are inclined to hide part of the information about their ill siblings when talking to friends. 4.Only a slight stigma is perceived: Participants do not feel a heavier stigma attached to them, even after their siblings were diagnosed with depressive disorders. 5.The relations among siblings can improve or worsen: How siblings get along before one of them has depressive disorder and parents’ attitude towards the illness will affect how the relations among siblings change afterwards.
In conclusion, this research calls for the reinforcement of health education, direct communication among family members, and cooperation among professionals in different fields to actively provide services and advice for patients with depressive disorders, healthy siblings, and the whole family.
The purpose of this research is to better understand the subjective experience of healthy adolescent siblings, how they adapt to the reality that their sisters or brothers have been ill, and how the relations among siblings change. This research adopted the qualitative research method to collect information through one-on-one interviews. The participants were between 19-21 years old, and still students. The research findings were divided into five themes:
1.Adolescents are affected after knowing their siblings are afflicted with depressive disorders: Influences are both positive and negative. In terms of positive impacts, some consider themselves more mature, tolerant, and patient. On the other hand, the negative ones are mostly related to personal emotions and feelings, including huge stress, sadness, the inclination to cry, and feeling sorry for ill siblings. Some participants also admit they wake up more easily, tend to suffer from sleep discontinuance, and often feel exhausted. To get more adapted, most participants choose to talk to their family or friends, which only works in some cases. 2.The family cannot function well: The whole family is affected by the stressful atmosphere. Conflicts become usual and rules are broken. The communication within family members is limited and indirect. Resources are few, and participants rarely take part in any facet of the treatment that their ill siblings have been through. 3.Adolescents face social development crises: Participants tend to spend time accompanying and teaching ill siblings at the expense of their opportunities to take part in social activities. In addition, adolescents are inclined to hide part of the information about their ill siblings when talking to friends. 4.Only a slight stigma is perceived: Participants do not feel a heavier stigma attached to them, even after their siblings were diagnosed with depressive disorders. 5.The relations among siblings can improve or worsen: How siblings get along before one of them has depressive disorder and parents’ attitude towards the illness will affect how the relations among siblings change afterwards.
In conclusion, this research calls for the reinforcement of health education, direct communication among family members, and cooperation among professionals in different fields to actively provide services and advice for patients with depressive disorders, healthy siblings, and the whole family.
Subjects
depressive disorders
healthy sibling
adolescent
lived experience
SDGs
Type
thesis
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