Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Eva Feindler, Psy.D.

Second Advisor

Frances Dalis, Psy.D.

Third Advisor

Nicole Davis, Psy.D.

Abstract

A “mental illness” is defined as a condition that causes clinically significant disturbance in cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior. Mental illness is growing increasingly more prevalent and has been found to not only impact the affected individual but also the broader family system. This study examined the impact of having a sibling with a mental illness on the non-diagnosed sibling. Specifically, the study focused on the relationship between siblings’ (sibling attachment), coping mechanisms, and caregiver burden. Previous research has shown that siblings of individuals with mental illness are at a higher risk of developing psychiatric conditions themselves, which is due to the interdependence that exists between family members and stress associated with caregiving. Further, research has displayed that coping mechanisms can be utilized as a means of protecting against the negative impact related to a sibling’s diagnosis. The present study used the Sibling Attachment Inventory (SAI) to measure sibling relationships and hypothesized that stronger sibling relationships (higher communication and trust and lower alienation) would correlate with more positive coping and lower burden. On the other hand, lower sibling attachment (low communication and trust and high alienation) was hypothesized to correlate with less positive coping and higher burden. Participants were recruited from diverse backgrounds and included adult siblings (18+) of individuals diagnosed with mental illness. These findings are aimed at enhancing family-focused treatment models and interventions to improve the mental health support given to families that are negatively impacted by mental health challenges.

Download

Share

COinS