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Distress, burden, and wellbeing in siblings of people with mental illness: a mixed studies systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Source :
-
Psychological Medicine . Nov2023, Vol. 53 Issue 15, p6945-6964. 20p. - Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Background: Family members of people with mental illness (MI) may experience a host of psychological adversities such as increased stress, burden, and reduced wellbeing. However, relatively little is known about siblings. This study aimed to characterise the experience of distress (viz. depressive and anxiety symptoms), burden, and wellbeing in siblings of people with MI. Methods: Studies reporting on quantitative measures of depression, anxiety, burden, or wellbeing in siblings; and/or qualitative findings on siblings' experience were eligible. The literature search was conducted up until 20th October 2022. Results: Sixty-two studies comprising data from 3744 siblings were included. The pooled mean percentage of depressive symptoms fell in the mild range at 15.71 (k = 28, N = 2187, 95% CI 12.99–18.43) and anxiety symptoms fell in the minimal range at 22.45 (k = 16, N = 1122, 95% CI 17.09–27.80). Moderator analyses indicate that siblings of people with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder experience greater depressive symptoms than siblings of people with other types of MI (β = −16.38, p < 0.001). Qualitative findings suggest that individuals may be particularly vulnerable during their siblings' illness onset and times of relapse. Limited communication, confusion about MI, and the need to compensate may contribute to siblings' distress and/or burden. Siblings' experience of wellbeing and caregiving were closely related. Conclusion: This review highlights the complex psychological experience of siblings and the need for greater research and clinical support for this important yet often overlooked cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *DIAGNOSIS of schizophrenia
*WELL-being
*SIBLINGS
*COGNITION disorders
*PSYCHOLOGY information storage & retrieval systems
*META-analysis
*MEDICAL information storage & retrieval systems
*CONFIDENCE intervals
*SYSTEMATIC reviews
*TIME
*PSYCHOLOGICAL vulnerability
*RESEARCH methodology
*MULTIPLE regression analysis
*BURDEN of care
*QUANTITATIVE research
*EXPERIENCE
*QUALITATIVE research
*RESEARCH funding
*PATIENT-family relations
*MENTAL depression
*AGE factors in disease
*COMMUNICATION
*INTELLECT
*DESCRIPTIVE statistics
*ANXIETY
*MEDLINE
*PSYCHOLOGICAL distress
*MENTAL illness
*LONGITUDINAL method
*PSYCHOSOCIAL factors
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00332917
- Volume :
- 53
- Issue :
- 15
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Psychological Medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 174185367
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291723001733