Coping of siblings of children with developmental disabilities in the Bedouin community

This is the first study that examines the coping of siblings of children with developmental disabilities in comparison with siblings of children without disabilities in the Bedouin community in Israel. For this purpose, the study examines the components of self-esteem, stress, and growth. Data were collected from 200 adolescents. The findings of this study show that siblings to children with developmental disabilities have a similar degree of self-esteem to those siblings to children without disabilities, whereas siblings to children with developmental disabilities have higher levels of stress perception and growth compared to siblings f children without developmental disabilities. In addition, a negative correlation was found between perception of stress and growth and a positive correlation between self-esteem and growth.

► We examine the coping of siblings of children with disabilities in the Bedouin community.
► Siblings to children with and without disabilities have the same self-esteem.
► Siblings to children with disabilities have higher levels of stress and growth compare to siblings to children without disabilities.