Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2016, Elementary Education

The purpose of this study is to examine the sibling relationship as it pertains to the development of early literacy skills. If siblings do, in fact, help to foster early literacy skills, then perhaps we can help preschool teachers to capitalize on this mentor-like relationship among siblings. Preschool teachers could use similar mentor models in their classrooms and help to educate parents about the powerful influence that siblings have on one another and how this influence can be used in positive ways. If parents lack the ability to learn about fostering the sibling relationship, then perhaps preschool teachers could directly influence their students to share literacy activities with their younger siblings. Guiding Questions: (1) What scaffolding activities do parents report when older sibling(s) support younger sibling(s) in the acquisition of early literacy skills? (2) What sibling interactions do parents report when older sibling(s) support younger sibling(s) in the acquisition of early literacy skills? (3) What patterns of behavior do parents report when the older sibling(s) support younger sibling(s) in the acquisition of early literacy skills?

Committee: Lisa Lenhart Dr. (Committee Chair); Xin Liang Dr. (Other); Al Daviso Dr. (Committee Member); Harold Foster Dr. (Committee Member); Ronald Otterstetter Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Education

Master of Arts in Speech Pathology and Audiology, Cleveland State University, 2015, College of Sciences and Health Professions

The purpose of this study was to document the communicative behaviors exhibited by sibling dyads comprised of one typically developing child (TDC) and their sibling diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (SibA). Six families (five families were Caucasian and one family was African American) participated in one 45-minute home observation, one semi-structured interview with the TDCs, and one semi-structured interview with the parents. Sibling dyads varied across birth order, ages, and genders. Observations revealed that the sibling dyads produced a variety of communicative behaviors. Observational data were coded to provide information on the types of communicative behaviors produced and their frequency of occurrence. Data were analyzed to reveal the types of communicative behaviors that both the TDCs and the SibAs produced, as well as the types of communicative behaviors produced only by the TDCs and only by the SibAs. The TDCs provided relevant answers to semi-structured interview questions about their interactions with their SibAs, and the parents provided relevant answers to semi-structured interview questions about their children's relationships. Four out of the six families provided strong evidence that suggested the possibility of sibling-mediated interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder. Two out of the six families provided some evidence that suggested the possibility of sibling-mediated interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder.

Committee: Monica Gordon Pershey Ed.D. (Advisor); Myrita Wilhite Au.D., CCC-A (Committee Member); Colleen Walsh Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Speech Therapy

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2016, Sociology

Early adulthood is a period when individuals begin to obtain major social statuses, such as finishing school, starting a full-time job, getting married, or becoming a parent. How these social statuses may influence the quality of sibling relationships has rarely been examined. Sibling relationships are common, likely some of the longest relationships most individuals who have siblings will experience, and can be a source of support throughout the life course. Thus, it is important to decipher factors that influence sibling relationship quality. This thesis project uses matched sibling dyads data from the sibling sample in Wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 1,451), to examine the associations between social statuses—education, employment, marriage or cohabitation, and parenthood—and five aspects of sibling relationship quality, including emotional closeness, conflict, direct contact, indirect contact, and turning to one's sibling for help or advice, among respondents aged 18 to 26. Supporting the time demands perspective, the respondents' or the siblings' marriage or cohabitation is related to less direct or indirect contact and fewer fights between siblings. When one sibling is in college, the other sibling tends to report less direct contact. In contrast, supporting the role expansion perspective, older siblings' parental status is related to younger siblings' reports of more contact and emotional closeness with the sibling. Those who have a college degree are more likely than those without it to have more indirect contact with their siblings. These findings suggest interconnectedness of siblings' lives during the transition to adulthood.

Committee: Kei Nomaguchi Dr. (Advisor); Karen Guzzo Dr. (Committee Member); I-Fen Lin Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Sociology

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2013, Antioch New England: Clinical Psychology

Sibling relationships have been recognized as important in facilitating the acquisition of emotional and social understanding and even assisting in cognitive development (Sanders, 2004). Sibling relationships that include one child with a disability are especially significant and worthy of study, as typical siblings tend to take on more responsibility for their siblings' care across their lifespan (Cicirelli, 1995). In attempting to understand these sibling relationships in childhood, past researchers have largely relied on parent report and behavioral observations. In order to advance the field's understanding of sibling relationships when one child autism, this study asked children to voice their perspectives and share their experiences. More specifically, four school-aged girls who had an older brother with autism were asked to individually complete a kinetic family drawing and participate in a semi-structured interview. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was then utilized to investigate these girls' constructed meanings of sisterhood. Analysis resulted in the discovery of superordinate and emergent themes relevant to role enactments, the felt experience of these roles, and the significance of togetherness. Additional themes appearing particularly relevant to sistering a brother with autism were also discovered. These superordinate and emergent themes are described in detail and are then considered in terms of alignment and departure from the existent literature. Lastly, limitations of this study and implications for clinical work and future research are addressed.

Committee: Martha Straus PhD (Committee Chair); Barbara Belcher-Timme PsyD (Committee Member); George Tremblay PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology

Specialist in Education, Miami University, 2023, School Psychology

Sibling-mediated interventions have been identified as an effective, family-focused intervention approach for improving social and adaptive skills in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Expanding upon the well-established peer-mediated intervention literature and more recent systematic review of sibling-mediated interventions for youth with autism, the present meta-analysis offers initial data on the overall effect of sibling-mediated interventions for youth with ASD. Given recent calls for study of family-focused interventions to better serve youth with ASD and their families, a synthesis of sibling-mediated interventions in relation to family systems theory was conducted. A meta-analysis of 24 single-subject research studies that implemented sibling-mediated interventions for youth with ASD yielded a moderate overall effect. No significant moderators emerged from analyses. Sibling-mediated interventions showed a moderate effect across intervention formats ("sibling as instructor", "sibling as model", "sibling as co-recipient"), target skills (social, academic/functional), and settings (home, school, clinical). Participant characteristics examined, including the gender and relative age of typical sibling participants, did not moderate effects. Implications of study findings for future research as well as practical implications in relation to family systems theory are explored. Limitations of the present study, including possible publication and/or selection bias, are discussed.

Committee: Kristy Brann (Advisor); Kevin Bush (Committee Member); Katy Mezher (Committee Member); Sarah Watt (Committee Member) Subjects: Educational Psychology

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, 2022, Psychology

Over the past two decades, public health research has demonstrated that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are associated with significant and prolonged physical and mental health problems (Campbell et al., 2016; Felitti et al., 1998; Gilbert et al., 2015; Greif Green et al., 2010; Horwitz et al., 2001; Mersky et al., 2013), demanding investigation into factors that may mitigate such poor outcomes. One potential factor that may attenuate the negative impact of ACEs on individuals' mental health is social support. An important source of social support is sibling relationships (Furman & Buhrmester, 1985; Goetting, 1986; Lempers & Clark-Lempers, 1992; Scholte et al., 2001; Wellman & Wortley, 1989). The purpose of the current study was to examine if the perceived quality of sibling relationships may moderate the negative impact of ACEs on wellbeing in adulthood. Data was collected from a total of 439 participants (Mage = 35.06, SD = 11.20; 73.6% White or European American; 62.4% male). Results revealed that sibling relationships characterized by higher perceived warmth—and, interestingly, higher perceived conflict and rivalry—attenuated the negative impact of ACEs on wellbeing in adulthood. Additionally, higher ACE-IQ scores predicted lower wellbeing when participants' overall sibling relationship was characterized by relatively high, but not low, perceived quality. Future research should consider the nuances in the measurement of conflict and rivalry in the context of sibling relationships, and conceptualize overall sibling relationship quality accordingly. Such research will help determine whether overall sibling relationship quality is a factor that can mitigate the negative impact of ACEs on wellbeing.

Committee: Tammy Sonnentag Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Kathleen Hart Ph.D., ABPP (Committee Member); Stacey Raj Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Developmental Psychology; Families and Family Life; Health; Personal Relationships; Psychology; Public Health

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2022, Social Welfare

Child exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant social problem. Childhood IPV exposure is associated with negative sequelae across all domains of functioning and at all stages of child development. A growing body of work has examined how children demonstrate resilience following IPV exposure. Interpersonal protective factors, such as a warm and attuned caregiver-child relationship, have been associated with resilient child functioning. However, a comparatively understudied relationship within the family system is the sibling relationship. While sibling relationships evolve and endure from childhood and into adulthood, research has found that this relationship is particularly salient in middle childhood. A nascent body of work has examined sibling relationships among IPV-exposed children. This study further investigated the sibling relationship in middle childhood among IPV-exposed children through an examination of the (1) theoretical and empirical literature of sibling relationships in this population; (2) ways in which siblings' psychosocial and behavioral functioning varies by birth order; and (3) how children describe and experience sibling relationship quality. Across articles in the integrative review, older and younger siblings exhibited different outcomes following IPV exposure. Birth order differences were also observed in the initial quantitative models wherein the effect of IPV on internalizing and externalizing behaviors was significant for older but not younger siblings. The effects of the structural characteristics of age and gender were less conclusive across both the integrative review and quantitative papers. In the integrative review and qualitative papers, sibling relationship quality emerged as an important protective factor for IPV-exposed children. In the integrative review, all the articles that examined sibling relationship quality found that higher sibling relationship quality was associated with more resilient fu (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Megan Holmes (Committee Chair); Dana Prince (Committee Member); Todd Herrenkohl (Committee Member); Adam Perzynski (Committee Member); Laura Voith (Committee Member) Subjects: Social Work

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2021, Sociology

The majority of Americans have siblings, who provide one another with warmth, support, and friendship, and also serve as a source of conflict, throughout the life course. Past research shows that sibling relationship quality influences mental health and self-concept. Over the past several decades, as more parents break up and re-partner, a substantial proportion of America's youth grow up with half-siblings or step-siblings. Limited research has examined how sibling relationship quality with half-siblings or step-siblings differs from those with full-siblings, however. Using Waves II and III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, drawing from the core sample (N = 8,402) and the residential sibling pairs sample (N = 1,753), this dissertation examines the following three questions : (1) Does residential sibling relationship quality in adolescence, measured as feelings of love, fights, and time spent together, vary across full-siblings, half-siblings, and step-siblings, controlling for variation by sibling type in family characteristics, such as mother-child relationship quality, father-child relationship quality, and family belonging? (2) Does sibling relationship quality in young adulthood, measured as visits, phone calls, help-seeking, fights, and emotional closeness, vary by sibling type, controlling for sibling relationship quality during adolescence? (3) Does the association between relationship quality with residential siblings in adolescence and mental health and self-concept in young adulthood differ across the three residential sibling types? The findings suggest that among residential siblings, with the same family characteristics, relationships with step-siblings are more distant than those with full-siblings or half-siblings, while relationships with half-siblings are similar to those with full-siblings, both in adolescence iii and young adulthood. Emotionally close relationships and fights with siblings in adolescence are as (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Kei Nomaguchi Dr. (Advisor); Amy Morgan Dr. (Other); Karen Guzzo Dr. (Committee Member); I-Fen Lin Dr. (Committee Member); Wendy Manning Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Sociology

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2020, Psychology/Clinical

Research has examined sibling relationships among families dealing with challenging life circumstances such as parental divorce or other high-conflict situations. These studies have primarily focused on the congruency and compensatory hypotheses of relationships to understand how sibling relate to each other in difficult family circumstances. The congruency hypothesis suggests that sibling relationships are reflective of parental or parent-child relationships. In contrast, the compensatory hypothesis contends that sibling relationships can act as buffering in families dealing with high conflict. Few studies have examined these conceptual frameworks as they relate to how adult siblings cope with a parent with mental illness. The present qualitative study examined first-person accounts of young adult siblings with mothers with mental illness (anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder). A multiple perspectives research design was used to examine the accounts of 10 adult siblings from five families to understand their views of sibling relationships and family ties. Participants completed individual semi-structured interviews in which they discussed their relationships with their mother, father, and siblings, caregiving experiences, their personal mental health, and positive experiences related to having a mother with mental illness. Qualitative content analysis found support for both the congruency and compensatory hypotheses of sibling relationships among families living with parental mental illness. Findings also highlighted the potential for positive experiences and growth, as well as the significance of social support, for young adults who have a mother with mental illness. Implications of study findings for research and clinical practice are discussed.

Committee: Catherine Stein Ph.D. (Advisor); Brittany Joseph M.Ed. (Other); Dryw Dworsky Ph.D. (Committee Member); Dale Klopfer Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology

Master of Arts (M.A.), University of Dayton, 2019, Psychology, Clinical

The use of corporal punishment (CP) as a disciplinary strategy is a highly controversial topic among the scientific community and general public alike. Although there is extensive research suggesting that CP is ineffective and potentially harmful, many individuals are hesitant to make definitive claims about the outcomes of CP, citing limitations in past methodology. Notably, past studies have not examined the outcomes of CP within the context of individual differences among children. The purpose of this study was to understand if temperament, that is, early appearing, stable individual differences in reactivity and self-regulation (Rothbart & Bates, 1998) moderates the outcomes of CP. This study utilized data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth Child and Young Adult cohort (CNLSY) to examine: (1) if children who receive CP exhibit higher levels of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, depressive symptoms, delinquent behavior compared to children who do not receive CP; (2) if, among children who receive CP, those with moderate temperaments exhibit lower levels of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, depressive symptoms, and delinquent behavior compared to biological siblings with difficult temperaments; and (3) if children with difficult temperaments will differentially benefit from high levels of maternal responsiveness. Using structural equation modeling, we found that children who received higher levels of CP were significantly more likely to exhibit externalizing behavior problems compared to biological siblings who received CP less frequently. In addition, when mothers reported higher scores of maternal responsiveness, their children were significantly less likely to develop depressive symptoms in adolescence compared to biological siblings who experienced lower levels of maternal responsiveness. However, children with difficult temperaments were no more likely to be susceptible to the negative outcomes of CP or to benefit (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Jackson Goodnight Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Mary Fuhs Ph.D. (Committee Member); Catherine Lutz-Zois Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Developmental Psychology; Psychology

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2018, Psychology/Clinical

Sibling relationships are characterized by a strong stability throughout adulthood, but the death of a sibling is often a “forgotten” topic in the bereavement literature. Previous research has primarily focused on ways that parents cope with the death of a child, with few studies describing the experiences of siblings who grieve the loss of a brother or sister. The present study used a personal network approach to examine the perceived social ties of young adults who have experienced the death of a sibling. A mixed-methods research design was used to understand the relationship between perceived structural, functional, and relational content network characteristics and self-reported adjustment (depression, complicated grief, posttraumatic growth, quality of life) among a sample of 19 young adults who had lost a sibling through death. Results indicated that neither the total network size nor the proportion of family in the young adults' networks were associated with better adjustment to the loss. Siblings' reports of higher quality of life were associated with their reports of higher proportions of network members who knew the deceased sibling. Results indicated that the proportion of the network that provided instructional support (advice and guidance) was associated with young adults' reports of posttraumatic growth. Case study analysis revealed a potential relationship between smaller, closer, more emotionally supportive networks and fewer participant reports of depression. Qualitative findings highlighted the helpfulness of art and media in coping with the loss, and feelings of closer family relationships after the loss. Study results were interpreted largely in the context of the dual processing model of bereavement, with emphasis on how different types of social networks might impact the young adults' balance between focusing on the loss and focusing on recovery. Implications of present findings for future research in the area were discussed.

Committee: Catherine Stein Ph.D. (Advisor); Abby Braden Ph.D. (Committee Member); Dara Musher-Eizenman Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2018, Biological Sciences (Arts and Sciences)

Understanding molecular mechanisms which regulate bacterial virulence is essential for discovering new therapeutics. Alarmingly, some bacterial species are already unresponsive to antibiotic cocktails, and in the case of Shigella dysenteriae, will up-regulate virulence factors under the duress of antibiotic treatment. While molecular mechanisms involving the regulation of S. dysenteriae pathogenesis have been studied, many are still unknown, especially those of which are mediated by RNA. Ribo-regulators that have been characterized in Shigella, and published to date, have all been shown to impact virulence processes. Many other sRNAs have been discovered in Shigella and E. coli, yet, remain uncharacterized. One sRNA of interest, RyfA, was originally discovered in Escherichia and found to have nearly exact sequence identity to that of RyfA in Shigella flexneri. Interestingly, in S. dysenteriae, 95% identical twin copies of RyfA, designated RyfA1 and RyfA2 exist in tandem. Intriguingly, ryfA1-like copies of the gene are only found in pathogenic species of Escherichia and all species of Shigella. Non-pathogenic species of Escherichia contain a ryfA2-like copy. Upstream of both RyfA1 and RyfA2, additional sRNAs exist, termed RyfB1 and RyfB2. While RyfB1 and RyfB2 are only 60% identical to each other they each share large amounts of complementarity to RyfA1 and RyfA2 respectively, suggesting that these molecules may interact with each other and thus one sRNA may regulate the abundance and/or activity of the other. Indeed, overexpression of RyfB1 leads to reduced levels of RyfA1 in the bacterial cell but has no effect on the levels of RyfA2. Unexpectedly, it was it was found that RyfB2 alters the abundance of both RyfA1 and RyfA2 when produced in S. dysenteriae. Furthermore, overproduction of RyfA1 slightly inhibits RyfA2 levels, while RyfA2 overproduction strongly inhibits RyfA1 levels. In summary, sRNAs RyfA2, RyfB2, and RyfB1 all function to include tight control over (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Erin Murphy (Advisor); Ronan Carroll (Committee Member); Peter Coschigano (Committee Member); Sarah Wyatt (Committee Member) Subjects: Biology; Genetics; Molecular Biology

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2018, Antioch New England: Clinical Psychology

The following qualitative study retrospectively explored the adolescent experiences and reactions of adult survivors to their loss of a sibling to suicide. The study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to inform subsequent interpretation of interview data collected from a sample of five adult sibling survivors of suicide. Criteria for an individual's participation included being of at least 25 years old at the time of the interview and that they experienced the loss of a sibling to suicide while they themselves were between the ages of 12 and 21 years old. Participant responses to an attachment self-report measure—Attachment Style Questionnaire (Feeney, Noller, & Hanrahan, 1994)—were also collected. Interview transcript analysis provided the framework for exploring how attachment behavior, viewed through a systems-oriented lens, influenced the bereavement process for these individuals. Key concepts for understanding the various components of the research were defined, including an explanation of attachment theory and the systems framework that was used to conceptualize the research. Participant accounts and research findings detailed the surviving sibling's experiences of feeling overlooked and dismissed in the time following their sibling's death and of feeling unaware, uninformed, or excluded from knowledge of happenings within their family related to their sibling. Other findings of the research included that sibling survivors of suicide may make efforts to seek support from others outside the surviving family system or instead attempt to rely on themselves to cope with and manage feelings of grief following the death of their sibling. This was found to also relate to the sibling survivor's experience of putting emotional processing of their sibling's death on hold. Given identified themes, the discussion section describes the contextual perceptions of the participants as they reflected on family dynamics following their loss.

Committee: Roger Peterson PhD, ABPP (Committee Chair); Martha Straus PhD (Committee Member); Barbara Belcher-Timme PsyD (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2017, Human Ecology: Human Development and Family Science

The sibling bond is likely the longest, most resilient relationship in one's life. Subsequently, the sibling relationship is a strong predictor of outcomes across the lifespan, including positive intimate relationships, feelings of self-worth, and social skills. The purpose of this dissertation was to use Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST) to examine individual's perception of their sibling relationships and the connection with interpersonal and intrapersonal factors, and to explore the congruence of sibling and romantic relationship distance regulation. Online research listservs were used to recruit participants (N=476). A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was used to explore quantitative survey items. The Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale (LSRS) was used to assess the sibling relationship in childhood and adulthood. The Social Connectedness Scale-Revised (SCSR) and the Separation-Individuation Test of Adolescence (SITA) were used to measure distance regulation. Interpersonal and intrapersonal factors included depression, general perceptions of health, and couple relationship satisfaction. BFST was used to explore four hypotheses: 1) The “closest” siblings will be same-sex dyads, with sisters being the closest among all the dyads; 2) Siblings that are <= 2.5 years of age will have a closer relationships than those > 2.5 years apart in age; 3) Individuals' perceptions of the sibling relationship in childhood and adulthood are related; and 4) The sibling relationship in childhood and adulthood are predictive of inter/intrapersonal factors. In addition, three research questions were explored: 1) Are there common characteristics of the selected “influential sibling” for participants with more than one sibling?; 2) What is the relationship between sibling and couple distance regulation?; and 3) To what extent does sibling and couple distance regulation mediate the influence of the sibling relationship on inter/intrapersonal factors? Correlations co (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Keeley Pratt Ph.D. (Advisor); Suzanne Bartle-Haring Ph.D. (Committee Member); Kelly Purtell Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Families and Family Life; Individual and Family Studies; Mental Health; Personal Relationships; Therapy

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2017, Antioch Seattle: Clinical Psychology

In recent years, the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been on the rise, prompting a simultaneous increase in scientific study regarding cause, impact, and intervention (Hughes, 2009; Ravindran & Myers, 2012). Research has proposed advances in the treatment of the individuals diagnosed and focused efforts on scholastic, parental, and professional intervention and supports. However, the siblings of ASD children have largely been neglected in this scientific investigation. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore neurotypical siblings' experiences in living with a child diagnosed with ASD. Seven adolescents were selected using criterion, convenience, and snowball sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and were analyzed using thematic reflection (van Manen, 1990). Data analysis uncovered seven themes: (a) personal impact, (b) familial impact, (c) social impact, (d) relational understanding, (e) socio-cultural influence, (f) future outlook, and (g) advice. Findings indicated neurotypical sibling experiences contain both positive and negative perceptions of living with a brother or sister diagnosed with ASD. Perceptions were often influenced by the cultural and societal value placed upon normal behaviors. The need for appropriate education regarding ASD etiology, symptomology, and treatment was deemed to be important for NTD siblings, parents, professionals, and society at large. Additionally, the development of social supports for NTD siblings was suggested.

Committee: Mary Wieneke Ph. D. (Committee Chair); Steve Curtis Ph. D. (Committee Member); Ned Farley Ph. D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Behavioral Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Counseling Psychology; Developmental Psychology; Early Childhood Education; Families and Family Life; Personal Relationships; Personality; Psychology; Psychotherapy; Social Psychology; Special Education

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2015, Sociology

Over the last fifty years, the proportion of children living with a single parent or a stepparent has increased dramatically due to high rates of divorce, non-marital childbearing, and cohabitation. Research continues to suggest that children from two biological parent families fare better than children from other types of families with respect to a variety of outcomes. A small but growing literature on blended families suggests that conventional measures of family structure fail to capture adequately the complexity of living arrangements for children who reside with two biological parents and one or more half-siblings. This nascent literature suggests that these children do not reap the full benefits of living with two biological parents. In fact, they more closely resemble children who reside with a stepparent. Studies examining blended families have focused on cognitive, educational, and psychological outcomes during childhood and adolescence but they have not examined sibling relationship quality or union formation. Nor have they been able to explain fully the relative disadvantages of children in blended families. Finally, studies have yet to address the implications of family boundary ambiguity for the measurement of blended families. This study uses the incomplete institutionalization perspective to address four questions: (1) How discrepant are the family structure reports of siblings who reside in blended families versus other arrangements?; (2) Does sibling relationship quality in blended families differ from that in other families?; (3) Is growing up in a blended family associated with union formation patterns in young adulthood (e.g., the transition to a first co-residential union)?; (4) Does sibling relationship quality mediate the association between family structure and first union formation? Using data from waves one and four of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), I find that six percent of all sibling pair reports of f (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Kara Joyner Dr. (Committee Co-Chair); Gary Oates Dr. (Committee Co-Chair); Susan Brown Dr. (Committee Member); Alfred DeMaris Dr. (Committee Member); Neil Englehart Dr. (Other) Subjects: Demography; Families and Family Life; Sociology

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2015, Antioch New England: Clinical Psychology

This qualitative study explored the experience of the death of a sibling in childhood. Seven memoirs written by individuals who lost a sibling in childhood were analyzed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Themes focused on the child's lived experience of sibling loss, parental and familial function, and factors identified as supporting the child's grieving and functioning. Where relevant, an in-depth review of the existing literature of relevant psychological research and theories supported and expanded on the themes identified in the narratives. As the purpose of this research was to inform a model for understanding the life and grief of a bereaved sibling, the study informed ways in which to facilitate the child's grieving process in the therapeutic setting and concrete implications for mental health treatment were identified.

Committee: Theodore Ellenhorn PhD (Committee Chair); Martha Straus PhD (Committee Member); Porter Eagan PsyD (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2015, Child and Family Studies (Health Sciences and Professions)

Research on sibling bereavement and the impact bereavement support has on childhood adjustment has grown in size and recognition but limited research has utilized first-hand accounts to determine the effectiveness of bereavement support. This research project conducted a semistructured interview with a past participant of bereavement counseling to evaluate the participant's perception of the effectiveness of counseling and to determine ways in which certified child life specialists can improve ongoing bereavement support in the hospital setting. Common themes and considerations for effective ongoing bereavement support are discussed and a bereavement support camp aimed at children who lost a sibling due to sudden death is proposed.

Committee: Jennifer Chabot Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Julie Brown Ph.D. (Committee Member); Rika Tanda Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Behavioral Sciences; Counseling Psychology; Developmental Psychology; Families and Family Life; Health Care; Individual and Family Studies; Medicine; Psychology; Social Work

Master of Arts, University of Akron, 2015, Family and Consumer Sciences-Child and Family Development

The current study sought to identify the unique needs of typically developing children living in a household with a brother or sister with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Previous research in the area has focused on the use of sibling support groups when assisting typically developing siblings in coping with having a brother or sister with Autism Spectrum Disorder. While sibling support groups have been the most prominent method discussed in assisting siblings, the current research identifies coping mechanisms utilized in assisting typically developing siblings, as well as what forms of support have been most beneficial in assisting the typical siblings. Finally, research sought to identify what the parents' felt key factors were in maintaining and strengthening positive relationships between siblings when one child has a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Committee: Pamela Schulze Dr. (Advisor); David Witt Dr. (Committee Member); Shernavaz Vakil Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Behavioral Sciences; Developmental Psychology; Families and Family Life

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2015, Arts and Sciences: Sociology

The death of a child shatters what many theorists think of as firmly held family constructs and there are few available cultural scripts to manage such a loss. The effect of that loss has a long lasting ripple effect on the family. Bereaved individuals, including, if not most especially bereaved parents, often appear to desire to maintain a symbolic connection to their deceased loved one in order to minimize the pain associated with the loss and to affirm that the deceased person's life (however short) had meaning and purpose. Continuing Bonds Theory best captures this experience. But, what of family members who did not know the person who died, children born subsequent to the death? What is their relationship to the deceased child and what meaning does it hold for them? Families are the locale not only where much of our most intimate grief work occurs, but also where children first do identity formation and meaning making. This study offers a new way of looking at how families grieve together, exploring family grief expression over the long term from the experience of siblings who did not know the child who died. It is from the perspective of individuals who indirectly experienced the loss. Participants were raised in a family that lost a child, but did not directly experience the loss. I interviewed 49 adults who had lost a sibling. The participants were either not yet born or younger than the age of 3 when their brother or sister died. This qualitative study attempts to better understand how symbolic relationships are constructed, the meanings of those symbolic relationships for the subsequent siblings, and the bearing, if any, there is on the siblings' identities. This research study adds to scholarship in the field of Sociology of Death regarding memory work, construction of symbolic relationships, and meaning making in families following the loss of a child. Memory work is done in social interaction, where actors construct memories that provide support (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Steven Carlton-Ford Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Clement Jeffrey Jacobson Ph.D. (Committee Member); Annulla Linders Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Sociology