Famílias pobres de crianças com deficiência: saúde mental, forças e dificuldades de irmãos primogênitos típicos

Abstract

In this study, the strengths and difficulties of typical firstborn siblings of people with disabilities were quantitatively assessed based on the perceptions of their primary caregivers (mothers, fathers and grandmothers). The responses of 31 caregivers to the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Goodman, 1997) for children aged four to seventeen who are siblings of people with disabilities were pooled and analyzed in conjunction with responses from the IPF- Family Poverty Index questionnaire, which profiles multidimensional poverty. It was found that the typical siblings had no statistically significant difference in emotional problems. Additionally, it was observed that all participating families fit the multidimensional poverty profile, corroborating with studies that relate disability to poverty. Some limitations, such as the number of participants and types of disability, do not allow the generalization of the results, and the suggestions for future studies are directed to the opportunities for health, educational and work services to this public and in other places with a larger population. Therefore, such suggestions may extend to families of children with other types of disabilities, in situations of social vulnerability, from other locations, as well as possible comparisons between typical siblings of children with disabilities from different regions. The study contributes so that the data obtained can be used as possible preventive measures and characterization of the typical sibling at a certain moment of development and situation.