Perceived parental differential treatment, cognition, behaviour and family cohesiveness among siblings of children with cerebral palsy? A family-mediated intervention to understand “displaced” children
-
Preeti Tabitha Louis
and
Navin Kumar
Abstract
The present study adopts a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the impact of perceived parental differential treatment towards 30 non-disabled siblings of children with cerebral palsy 7–10 years of age. Standardised inventories such as, the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test (SBIT), the Connors Parent Rating Scale-Revised (CPRS) and the Draw-a-Family test were used pre and post intervention. Scheduled interviews were used for parents and children to obtain information regarding family cohesiveness. A special program was designed to structure the home environment and to maximise parental involvement that catered to the “needy child” and this was implemented for 6 months after which the children were reassessed. Prior to the intervention, we observed deficits in cognitive skills and siblings had concerns in hyperactivity and oppositional behaviour. Scheduled interviews with siblings elicited responses that represented neglect, perceived differential treatment and negative emotional well-being. Projective tests revealed that family dynamics were disturbed and chaotic. Post intervention, we observed significant differences in the cognitive orientation, behavioural engagement and also in the interpersonal relationship within the family. We may conclude therefore, that parental involvement significantly predicts academic and psychosocial adjustment of siblings and this is an important implication for practitioners in developing early intervention programs.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the Paediatrician, Dr. Beena Koshi working at The Developmental Paediatrics Department for providing me valuable suggestions and for helping me in designing the intervention strategies. I also thank the Christian Medical College and Hospital Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India, for providing me the opportunity to conduct the study. I am grateful to VIT University, Vellore, for providing me the infrastructure and facilities to conduct the study and for providing me encouragement and support thus far in pursuing my research interests. I would like to thank my guide Dr. Navin Kumar, Assistant professor (Senior), School of Social Sciences and Languages for being a mentor and for providing me encouragement at all times.
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©2016 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Birth defects and human development
- Original Articles
- Perceived parental differential treatment, cognition, behaviour and family cohesiveness among siblings of children with cerebral palsy? A family-mediated intervention to understand “displaced” children
- Alterations in body composition, capillary glucose and functionality during explosive strength training in older women
- People with multiple disabilities use assistive technology to perform complex activities at the appropriate time
- The relationship between family dining practices, parenting style and family functioning and child learning
- A procedure to correct the effect of heart rate on heart rate variability indices: description and assessment
- Psychological and emotional state of parents having intellectually and developmentally disabled children
- Predictors of quality of life in people with intellectual disability in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- The effect of erythropoietin on phosphorus levels during hypoxia reoxygenation injury in rats
- Opportunities for disabled people through ICTs: a perspective from Turkey
- A review of adolescent prevention and positive youth development programs in non-English speaking European countries
- Assessing learning gains of university students in Hong Kong adopting the Collegiate Learning Assessment Plus (CLA+)
- Student feedback on a subject on leadership and intrapersonal development for university students in Hong Kong
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Birth defects and human development
- Original Articles
- Perceived parental differential treatment, cognition, behaviour and family cohesiveness among siblings of children with cerebral palsy? A family-mediated intervention to understand “displaced” children
- Alterations in body composition, capillary glucose and functionality during explosive strength training in older women
- People with multiple disabilities use assistive technology to perform complex activities at the appropriate time
- The relationship between family dining practices, parenting style and family functioning and child learning
- A procedure to correct the effect of heart rate on heart rate variability indices: description and assessment
- Psychological and emotional state of parents having intellectually and developmentally disabled children
- Predictors of quality of life in people with intellectual disability in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- The effect of erythropoietin on phosphorus levels during hypoxia reoxygenation injury in rats
- Opportunities for disabled people through ICTs: a perspective from Turkey
- A review of adolescent prevention and positive youth development programs in non-English speaking European countries
- Assessing learning gains of university students in Hong Kong adopting the Collegiate Learning Assessment Plus (CLA+)
- Student feedback on a subject on leadership and intrapersonal development for university students in Hong Kong
