Wendy Plante

Discordance Between Sibling and Parent Reports of the Impact of Chronic Illness and Disability on Siblings

This study compared sibling and parent reports of sibling adjustment to chronic illness/developmental disability (CI/DD) in 51 siblings (ages 8 to 13). Discordance between sibling and parent reports on the Sibling Perception Questionnaire was common, with parents tending to report more sibling adjustment problems than did siblings. Siblings who reported more problems than parents tended to be younger and male. There was a trend for parents who reported more problems than siblings to also report greater negative impact of CI/DD on family social functioning than other parents. Findings highlight the importance of obtaining sibling self-reports in research and clinical settings.

Latino sibling knowledge and adjustment to chronic disability

Forty matched healthy Latino and non-Latino siblings (ages 8-14 years) of children with developmental and physical disabilities completed interviews and questionnaires assessing sibling knowledge of and adjustment to disability and sibling global psychological functioning. One-way analyses of variance revealed Latino siblings to have significantly less accurate information about the disability and more internalizing problems than non-Latino siblings. Sibling and parent wishes for the healthy sibling reflected cultural values. The results indicate that Latino siblings of children with chronic disabilities may be at risk for internalizing psychological problems. Future research regarding cultural factors affecting sibling adaptation to childhood disability is encouraged.

Psychological and school functioning of Latino siblings of children with intellectual disability.

BACKGROUND Siblings of children with disabilities are at risk for internalizing psychological disorders; however, little is known about how culture influences this effect. This study examined the psychological and school functioning of Latino siblings of children with intellectual disability (ID). METHODS Participants were 100 Latino (L) and nonLatino (NL) siblings (8-15 years) of children with ID (50 LID, 50 NLID) and 100 Latino and nonLatino control siblings (50 LC, 50 NLC). Siblings, parents, and teachers completed standard questionnaires regarding sibling emotional and behavioral functioning; sibling school report cards were obtained. Analyses of variance were conducted, controlling for parent age and family income; planned contrasts compared LID siblings to the other sibling groups. RESULTS LID siblings reported significantly more internalizing (t(1) = 2.41, p < .05) and emotional t(1) = 3.06, p < .05) symptoms, poorer awareness of (t(1) = 2.26, p < .01) and greater reluctance to express (t(1) = 3.12, p < .01) their emotions, and more problems in personal adjustment and relationships with parents (t(1) = -2.50, p < .05). Significantly higher percentages of LID siblings scored in the at-risk or clinical range for internalizing and emotional symptoms, and were more likely to score above the clinical cut-off for separation anxiety disorder and to endorse global impairment. LID siblings experienced more school absences and lower academic performance. There were no group differences in externalizing behavior problems, somatic symptoms, or teacher-reported internalizing symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Latino siblings of children with ID are at greater risk for internalizing psychological disorders and greater impairment in personal and school functioning. Results are discussed in terms of their sociocultural significance and clinical implications.

Recruiting Latino and Non-Latino Families in Pediatric Research: Considerations from a Study on Childhood Disability

OBJECTIVE To improve representation of minorities in research, we examined recruitment methods from our study of Latino and non-Latino families of children with Intellectual Disability (ID). METHOD We compared recruitment strategies that yielded the enrollment target of 200 matched Latino and nonLatino families of children with ID and controls. Active recruitment strategies involved direct contact with potential participants; passive strategies included disseminating study information. RESULTS Effective outreach focused on community agencies where children had ongoing involvement and utilizing bilingual/bicultural staff. Latino families were significantly more likely to be recruited by an active strategy than non-Latino families. Active and passive strategies were both effective with non-Latino ID families. Asking research participants to inform other families about the study and sharing consent to contact lists with other investigators was productive with control families. CONCLUSIONS Bilingual staff and active recruitment through familiar community services were successful in recruiting Latino families for research.

Children with co-morbid recurrent abdominal pain and anxiety disorders: results from a multiple-baseline intervention study.

Recurrent Abdominal Pain (RAP), one of the most common complaints of childhood, is associated with many adverse outcomes. However, few treatment studies have been conducted, especially for children with co-morbid RAP and anxiety disorders. The primary aim of the present study was to explore the utility of a cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) and a treatment that combined both CBT and family-based approaches in a community sample of children with co-morbid anxiety and RAP. A multiple-baseline across participants design utilizing repeated measures of anxiety and pain was implemented (n = 8 families). An examination of the clinical significance of both treatment approaches is suggestive of their utility in the treatment of anxiety and pain symptoms in children with RAP. More research is warranted in RAP treatment outcome research, particularly with family-based approaches to treatment.

Cultural and Child-Related Predictors of Distress Among Latina Caregivers of Children With Intellectual Disabilities

The objective of this article is to examine associations among socioeconomic, cultural, and child factors and maternal distress among families of children with intellectual disabilities (ID). Latino and nonLatino White (NLW) mothers of children with and without ID (N  =  192) reported on familism, language acculturation, maternal distress, child adaptive functioning, and child behavior problems. Among mothers of children with ID, higher levels of child behavior problems mediated the association between Latina ethnicity and elevated maternal distress. Associations between child behavior problems and maternal distress in Latina mothers of children with ID were moderated by single-parent marital status, higher familism, and lower English usage. Thus, child and cultural factors contribute to elevated distress among Latina mothers of children with ID.

Psychosocial Group Interventions for Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: The State of the Literature

The increasing prevalence of diabetes among children increases the demand for cost-effective psychosocial interventions. This article reviews the efficacy of group-based psychological interventions designed to improve psychological adaptation, adherence to the treatment regimen, and diabetes-related medical outcomes in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. To help treatment providers incorporate empirically supported treatment components into group-based diabetes clinical programs, the review also discusses the challenges of transferring these interventions from clinical research trial to clinical setting.