Correlating Views Between Parent and Child on Sibling with Down's syndrome

This case study deals with the correlation of perspective between a parent and a typical eleven year old female sibling of a child with Down's syndrome. The study was conducted using the Sibling Need and Involvement Profile, an instrument with five areas: Awareness, Feelings, Having Fun, Helping, and Advocacy. It is common that good communication between parents and children leads to a higher correlation of perspectives between the two on the subject of another sibling. This study is unique in that it is based upon an adopted younger sibling with Down's syndrome which changes the family dynamics and levels of communication. It is taken into account that the older sibling had a say in the adoption of the younger one. Also taken into account is the marital status of the parents, another sibling living at home, and genders of the three siblings.