The Sibling-in-Law: Understanding an Unknown Member of the Disability Community

Kirsten E. Zemke; Meghan M. Burke; Richard C. Urbano; Robert M. Hodapp

doi:10.1352/1934-9556-58.5.361

The Sibling-in-Law: Understanding an Unknown Member of the Disability Community

Kirsten E. Zemke, Meghan M. Burke, Richard C. Urbano, Robert M. Hodapp

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Little attention has focused on siblings-in-law, the spouses of siblings of people with disabilities. Using an online survey, 102 siblings-in-law provided information concerning themselves, their spouses, in-law family, and experiences. Overall experiences were rated as positive (51.0%), mixed (34.3%), or negative (14.7%). Compared to respondents with negative outcomes, respondents with positive and mixed outcomes felt being a sibling-in-law more positively impacted their marriage, relationship with in-laws, parenting, desire to advocate, and career. Before marriage, these two groups better understood sibling-in-law responsibilities and reported less worry about marrying into a family with a member with disabilities or having children with disabilities. In open-ended reflections, 1/3 of respondents discussed family dynamics; improving disability knowledge; future planning; and marriage considerations. Practice and research implications are discussed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	361-378
Number of pages	18
Journal	Intellectual and developmental disabilities
Volume	58
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-58.5.361
State	Published - Oct 1 2020

Keywords

caring for adults with IDD
families
sibling-in-law
siblings

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Education
Developmental and Educational Psychology
Community and Home Care
Psychiatry and Mental health

Access to Document

10.1352/1934-9556-58.5.361

Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'The Sibling-in-Law: Understanding an Unknown Member of the Disability Community'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this

@article{20416ba16ef1461482bb56e883d0b8b1,

title = "The Sibling-in-Law: Understanding an Unknown Member of the Disability Community",

abstract = "Little attention has focused on siblings-in-law, the spouses of siblings of people with disabilities. Using an online survey, 102 siblings-in-law provided information concerning themselves, their spouses, in-law family, and experiences. Overall experiences were rated as positive (51.0%), mixed (34.3%), or negative (14.7%). Compared to respondents with negative outcomes, respondents with positive and mixed outcomes felt being a sibling-in-law more positively impacted their marriage, relationship with in-laws, parenting, desire to advocate, and career. Before marriage, these two groups better understood sibling-in-law responsibilities and reported less worry about marrying into a family with a member with disabilities or having children with disabilities. In open-ended reflections, 1/3 of respondents discussed family dynamics; improving disability knowledge; future planning; and marriage considerations. Practice and research implications are discussed.",

keywords = "caring for adults with IDD, families, sibling-in-law, siblings",

author = "Zemke, {Kirsten E.} and Burke, {Meghan M.} and Urbano, {Richard C.} and Hodapp, {Robert M.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright}AAIDD. Copyright: This record is sourced from MEDLINE/PubMed, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine",

year = "2020",

month = oct,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1352/1934-9556-58.5.361",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "58",

pages = "361--378",

journal = "Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities",

issn = "1934-9491",

publisher = "American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Sibling-in-Law

T2 - Understanding an Unknown Member of the Disability Community

AU - Zemke, Kirsten E.

AU - Burke, Meghan M.

AU - Urbano, Richard C.

AU - Hodapp, Robert M.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: ©AAIDD. Copyright: This record is sourced from MEDLINE/PubMed, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine

PY - 2020/10/1

Y1 - 2020/10/1

N2 - Little attention has focused on siblings-in-law, the spouses of siblings of people with disabilities. Using an online survey, 102 siblings-in-law provided information concerning themselves, their spouses, in-law family, and experiences. Overall experiences were rated as positive (51.0%), mixed (34.3%), or negative (14.7%). Compared to respondents with negative outcomes, respondents with positive and mixed outcomes felt being a sibling-in-law more positively impacted their marriage, relationship with in-laws, parenting, desire to advocate, and career. Before marriage, these two groups better understood sibling-in-law responsibilities and reported less worry about marrying into a family with a member with disabilities or having children with disabilities. In open-ended reflections, 1/3 of respondents discussed family dynamics; improving disability knowledge; future planning; and marriage considerations. Practice and research implications are discussed.

AB - Little attention has focused on siblings-in-law, the spouses of siblings of people with disabilities. Using an online survey, 102 siblings-in-law provided information concerning themselves, their spouses, in-law family, and experiences. Overall experiences were rated as positive (51.0%), mixed (34.3%), or negative (14.7%). Compared to respondents with negative outcomes, respondents with positive and mixed outcomes felt being a sibling-in-law more positively impacted their marriage, relationship with in-laws, parenting, desire to advocate, and career. Before marriage, these two groups better understood sibling-in-law responsibilities and reported less worry about marrying into a family with a member with disabilities or having children with disabilities. In open-ended reflections, 1/3 of respondents discussed family dynamics; improving disability knowledge; future planning; and marriage considerations. Practice and research implications are discussed.

KW - caring for adults with IDD

KW - families

KW - sibling-in-law

KW - siblings

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85092683898&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85092683898&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1352/1934-9556-58.5.361

DO - 10.1352/1934-9556-58.5.361

M3 - Article

C2 - 33032320

AN - SCOPUS:85092683898

VL - 58

SP - 361

EP - 378

JO - Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

JF - Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

SN - 1934-9491

IS - 5

ER -