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Siblings of People Diagnosed with a Mental Disorder and Posttraumatic Growth

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Abstract

This study examines the potential for posttraumatic growth (PTG) for siblings of persons diagnosed with a mental disorder. Using the posttraumatic growth Inventory we compared siblings (N = 33) with a comparison group of participants who did not experience trauma (N = 30). Our group of participants who had a sibling diagnosed with a mental disorder by a mental health professional (N = 33) reported higher PTG scores with mostly large effect sizes on most of the inventory subscales. Participants who took an active role in care giving experienced less PTG than participants who did not. Having a sibling diagnosed with a mental disorder presents an opportunity to experience PTG. Implications for the therapeutic milieus are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Derner Institute for Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, 11530, USA

    Avihay Sanders & Kate Szymanski

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  1. Avihay Sanders
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  2. Kate Szymanski
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Correspondence to Avihay Sanders.

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Sanders, A., Szymanski, K. Siblings of People Diagnosed with a Mental Disorder and Posttraumatic Growth. Community Ment Health J 49, 554–559 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-012-9498-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-012-9498-x

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