ABSTRACT

A study on “Psycho-social behaviour and socio-emotional adjustment of well siblings of disabled children: associated factors and intervention” was carried out mainly in Gadag and Dharwad districts. The population of the study comprised of well siblings from both rural and urban areas of Gadag and Dharwad taluks of Karnataka. The sample of the study was well siblings of disabled children aged between 5-18 years. The sample comprised of 45 well siblings from the rural area and 41 well siblings from urban areas, total of 86 well siblings were selected as the study samples. General information schedule, Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire , The Weinberger Adjustment Inventory , Sibling and Parent Perception Questionnaire , Siblings Attitudes toward Disability Questionnaire , Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale , Socio-economic status scale was used for the study. Well siblings adjustment was studied by employing the quantitative and qualitative research methods. Concurrently, qualitative methods were also employed, where phenomenological approach was done to know their lived experiences of rural and urban well sibling and parents. Intervention module to improve well sibling psycho-social behaviour, socio-emotional adjustment, knowledge improvement of sibling perception and attitude was developed. Results revealed that in both rural and urban well siblings it was observed that majority of the well siblings were in abnormal level of psycho-social behaviour followed by borderline level of psycho-social behavior. In both rural and urban area well siblings with age 13-18 years were higher on psycho-social behavior than compared to the age group 5-12 years of age i.e older well sibling’s psycho-social behaviour is better than the younger siblings. Majority of the first born well siblings were in abnormal category than compared to second and later born. Significant association was observed between the ordinal position of well siblings and their psycho-social behavior in both rural and urban area. Elder brother-younger brother dyad and Elder brother-younger sister dyad mean scores were found lower compared to Elder sister-younger sister dyad and Elder sister-younger brother dyad. Significant association and differences were observed for sibling constellation of well siblings and their psycho-social behavior in both rural and urban area. In both rural and urban area social support showed significant association with the psycho-social behaviour of well siblings. Majority of the well siblings were belonged to medium level of socio-emotional adjustment followed by low level of socio emotional adjustment in both rural and urban area. There was significant association and differences were found between the age and socio-emotional adjustment. Where, well siblings had medium level of socio-emotional adjustment among older age group well siblings having higher mean scores. Boys were better on socio-emotional adjustment than the girls in both rural and urban area. Well siblings who perceive lower level of social support majority of them were in the medium and low level of socio-emotional adjustment. The post intervention revealed well siblings showed improvement on their psycho-social behavior and socio-emotional adjustment. The intervention was beneficial in reducing the emotional symptoms, conduct problem, hyperactivity and peer problem and distress of well siblings. It was beneficial in enhancing pro-social behavior, self-restraint and defensiveness of well siblings.