Quality of life and psychological adaptation in siblings of paediatric cancer patients, 2 years after diagnosis

Abstract

Although acute emotional distress reactions seem to have normalised in most siblings as has been suggested in the literature, emotional distress of having a brother or sister with cancer may continue beyond diagnosis for a subgroup of children. Young siblings seem to be affected in their quality of life, whereas a subgroup of adolescent siblings experience clinically relevant internalising problems. The results support the use of quality of life measures for siblings. Predictors of long-term adaptation in siblings need to be investigated.