ABSTRACT: : This project sought to explore the relationship among risk, resilience, and gender in siblings of children with severe emotional disturbance (SED). Growing out of the larger Sibling Resilience Research Project, a planned longitudinal effort studying the siblings and factors influencing their adjustment, it examined the role of gender in adjustment and sought to identify child, family, and contextual factors that differentially predicted adjustment for males and females. This sibling population is understudied yet at increased risk, due to significant stress exposure and shared risk factors with a sibling already identified as SED. Results indicate that siblings demonstrate higher levels of adjustment, fewer problem behaviors, and higher levels of competencies relative to the children with SED. In addition, some gender differences emerged, suggesting that females in this population may fare better than males in the face of adversity in specific domains (e.g., school functioning). Further, characteristics were identified that differentially impact adjustment for males and females. These findings are potentially relevant to multiple disciplines and could be used to better inform prevention/intervention efforts.

The siblings of children with special needs are often the overlooked ones in families struggling to cope. Kate Strohm is an experienced health professional and journalist who has sister with cerebral palsy. In this book she shares the story of her journey from confusion and distress to understanding and acceptance. She provides a forum for other siblings to describe their own journeys. Kate also provides strategies that siblings themselves, parents and practitioner can use to support the brothers and sisters of children with special.

A report of research on two groups of residentially placed, emotionally disturbed adolescents compared on the basis of their adoptive status. A post hoc comparison with a nondisturbed adoptive group is also included. . . . McRoy, Grotevant, and Zurcher examine factors related to adoption that may contribute to the development of emotional difficulties. The authors' suggestions are worthy of consideration by professionals in the field. . . . The theoretical reviews of potential sources of difficulty in adoption are well done and informative, and the presentation of the perspectives of both adoptees and adoptive parents is also laudable. Choice Many adopted children experience emotional disorders during adolescence that require residential treatment. This volume reports research findings comparing adopted and non-adopted adolescents in treatment. The authors first discuss the difficulties of the adolescent period itself, particularly as it relates to identity problems. Based on extensive interviews with adoptive and non-adoptive parents, adolescents, and their therapists, successive chapters analyze genetic risk and prenatal care, explore the impact of family and peer relationships, examine familiar and contextual factors that initiate and maintain emotional problems, and examine adoptive family dynamics and adoption issues in nonclinical families. The various theoretical perspectives research findings, and well-reasoned recommendations in this volume will interest social workers, clinical and developmental psychologists, and special education professionals.