Date of Award
8-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Committee Chair/Advisor
Brandi Crowe
Committee Member
Jasmine Townsend
Committee Member
Stephen Lewis
Committee Member
Susan 'BOON' Murray
Abstract
Siblings of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face unique challenges and experiences different from their peers who do not have a sibling with IDD. These challenges can include increased sense of responsibility at home, decreased attention from parents, and feelings of social isolation; all of which can increase stress. While sibling support groups offer opportunities for siblings of individuals with IDD to connect with other siblings, these groups do not formally focus on improving participants’ stress-coping outcomes. Bibliotherapy has been shown to help youth express stress-related feelings and learn stress-coping strategies. However, no known research has assessed the impact of bibliotherapy on stress-coping among siblings of individuals with IDD. The purpose of this explanatory mixed methods study was to determine the effects of participation in a recreational therapy-based bibliotherapy program on perceived stress and coping among siblings (ages 7-12) of individuals with IDD. Participants (n=6) completed a seven-week bibliotherapy program. Pre-post quantitative data, and post-program qualitative data were collected from participants and their parents (n=5). Results indicated minimal change in participants’ stress-coping. While some participants learned new coping strategies, they had difficulty understanding when and how to apply them. Additional findings provided insight into what program components participants and parents perceived as important and/or needing improvement when implementing a bibliotherapy program with siblings of individuals with IDD. Recommendations for revising the bibliotherapy protocol, implications for recreational therapy practice and future research, and study limitations are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Kirschbaum, Lindsey, "A Recreational Therapy-Based Bibliotherapy Program For Perceived Stress and Coping Among Siblings Of Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities" (2024). All Dissertations. 3679.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/3679