Separation Reactions of Hospitalized Children's Healthy Siblings

dc.contributor.authorOrtiz, Cynthia
dc.date.accessioned2025-06-26T00:46:35Z
dc.date.available2025-06-26T00:46:35Z
dc.date.issued1988
dc.description.abstractThe purpose of this study is to explore healthy children's experiences and reactions to their brothers' or sisters' illness and hospitalization. The study is an exploratory study based on the reactions of 10 healthy, male and female, Bay Area children. The well children's responses indicated that they experienced a struggle surrounding the experience, and were involved in various sources of conflict. Some examples of their conflicts include: wanting to know more about the incident; insecurity in approaching parents about the matter; shame and embarrassment; guilt; fears of becoming ill; fears of siblings' abnormalities; and general confusion surrounding their siblings' hospitalization. Most of the children alluded to the fact that having a brother or sister with special needs makes them feel different than "other kids," and the illness altered the quality of their interactions with their ill siblings and with their parents. The findings demonstrate that healthy siblings of hospitalized children need to be recognized and considered not only when the hospitalization is taking place, but before and especially after the experience.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11803/3859
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisher.institutionJohn F. Kennedy University (JFKU)
dc.titleSeparation Reactions of Hospitalized Children's Healthy Siblings
dc.typeThesis
thesis.degree.disciplinePsychology
thesis.degree.grantorJohn F. Kennedy University (JFKU)
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts in Psychology
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