Perceived Impacts of Caring for a Child With Disability on Siblings and Parents in Australia During COVID-19 Lockdowns: Parent Perspectives

Aim This study investigated the perceived implications of caring on siblings and parents under COVID-19 lockdown in Australia.Method Eighty parent/guardians participated. Dependent variables: care implications on siblings; and parent distress. Independent variables: sibling behavior; relationships; and family functioning. Correlation and multiple regression explored relationships.Results Sibling wellbeing was associated with emotional functioning (r = .41, p < .05), hyperactivity (r = .42, p < .01) and family functioning (r = .38, p < .01). Parental distress was associated with sibling’s companionship (r = .50, p < .01), empathy (r = .33, p < .01), and behavioral difficulties. Parent distress was significantly predicted by both sibling’s protective factors (sibling companionship and empathy and prosocial behavior) r = .51, F(3,76) =8.71, p < .001, accounting for 26% of the total variance, and risk factors (problem behaviors, impact of caring), R = .51, F(4,75) =6.58, p < .001, accounting for 26% of the total variance. The psychosocial impact on siblings was significantly predicted by sibling behavior problems, satisfaction with family functioning and parent distress, F(5,79) = 5.57, p < .001, and explained 22.5% of the variance.Conclusion Implications for practitioners include consideration of the importance of protective factors such as emotional self-control and satisfaction with family functioning for siblings, and sibling companionship, empathy and the siblings’ behavior on parental distress, among families raising children with disabilities.