Stress levels and attitudes of normal siblings of children with disabilities

This study examines the effects on normal children of the presence in the family of siblings with disabilities, attempting to measure both their level of stress and attitudes towards disability. The stress level and attitudes towards disability of normal siblings of children with disabilities (SCD) and siblings of normal children (SNC) were compared in terms of gender, family size and educational level. The stress level was measured by Holroyd's Questionnaire on Resources and Stress; attitudes towards disability were examined by Attitudes Towards Disabled Person Scale. 60 subjects participated in this study; 30 of them were SCD and 30 of them were SNC. t-test was used for data analysis. Results revealed a significant difference between the stress level of SCD and SNC. However, no significant difference was found between two sibling groups' attitudes towards disability. Also, gender, family size and educational level showed no significant difference either on the stress level of both sibling groups nor on their attitudes towards disability.This study is based on the master thesis of the first author.