Perception of Stigma on the Psychological Well-Being of Siblings of Children with Intellectual Disability

Abstract

Siblings’ relationships are one of the longest and one of the most influential relationships in the development of psychological well-being, and the formation of attitudes. The present study investigated the influence of the presence of having a brother or sister with intellectual disability and the positive and negative sibling relationship on the psychological well-being of the siblings. A sample of 69 siblings of a brother or sister with intellectual disability from four special schools in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana participated in this study. A correlational survey research design was used. Tests assessing, psychological well-being, perceived stigma and attitude towards intellectual disability, family relationship were administered to participants. Parents or guardians were asked to rate siblings’ relationship with their intellectually disabled brother. Results of the study show that only positive sibling relationship one develops affects their psychological well-being. The type of intellectual disability, siblings’ attitude towards intellectual disability and perceived stigma did not predict the siblings’ psychological wellbeing. This study implies that developing of quality positive sibling relationship between a sibling dyad helps maintain the psychological well-being of siblings of an intellectually disabled person in spite of perceived stigma