Parent's perceptions of symptoms of anxiety and depression in typically developing children who have a sibling with or without a special healthcare need

Globally, one in seven children and adolescents aged 10 to 19 have been diagnosed with a mental disorder, with anxiety and depression represented as the leading causes of illness and disability in this age group. In the United States, from 2019 to 2020, approximately 14.1 million children (or one in five) were diagnosed with a special healthcare need. Research indicated that mental health issues in children who had a sibling with a special healthcare need could negatively impact their development, both during childhood and as they mature. This non-experimental, cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2023 to September 2024. The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether there were differences in anxiety and depression levels among children aged eight to 12 years who had a sibling with a special healthcare need compared to those without. Additionally, the study aimed to explore the potential impact of the age gap on anxiety and depression in children who had a sibling with a special healthcare need. Data from 242 participants were analyzed, which included 133 children with a sibling with a special healthcare need and 109 without. An independent sample t-test was conducted to assess whether there was a significant difference in parent-reported anxiety and depression between the two groups of children. The findings indicated significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression in children with a sibling with a special healthcare need when compared to children with a sibling without a special healthcare need. Furthermore, a multiple regression analysis was performed to determine if the age gap affected anxiety and depression levels in children with a sibling with a special healthcare need. The results revealed the age gap did not have an impact on anxiety or depression and this group of children.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nursing

Grantor

Texas Woman's University

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Gonzalez, Kimberly Egan

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Isik, Elif

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Brooks, Andrea
• Nava, Angeles

• Depression
• Mental health
• Child
• Sibling
• Special healthcare need
• Anxiety

Language dc:language.iso

English

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/11274/16908

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:twu-ir.tdl.org:11274/16908