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Siblings describe positive and negative aspects of autism and often assume lifelong support roles. Less is known about cultural influences on sibling relationships. This qualitative study characterizes processes linking siblings' autism conceptualizations, sibling relationships, and self-concept using a multicultural framework. Siblings (12 Latino/a/x, 9 non-Latino/a/x white) participated. Data were stratified by ethnicity and analyzed using applied thematic analysis. Latino/a/x and non-Latino/a/x siblings described processes linking autism, relationships, and self-concept differently. Latino/a/x siblings emphasized family roles and identified as caregivers and protectors. Non-Latino/a/x siblings emphasized general sensitivity toward individuals who differed from themselves. Findings may reflect cultural differences in familism, caregiving expectations, and autism conceptualizations, thereby illuminating foundations of siblings' lifelong caregiving roles and highlighting the importance of culturally-sensitive, family-centered care., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Constipation in otherwise healthy infants and children is a common problem despite confusion about how to precisely define constipation and constipation-related disorders. Constipation may, rarely, be a sign or symptom of a more serious disease or a diagnosis defined only by its symptoms and without any structural or biochemical findings. In the latter case it is classified as a functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID). FGIDs are defined as disorders that cannot be explained by structural or biochemical findings. The Rome Foundation has standardized diagnostic criteria for all FGIDs. The Rome criteria are based on the available research as well as the clinical experience of the Foundation's assembled experts. The most recent report, Rome IV, described clinical criteria and diagnostic tools and encouraged more rigorous research in the area of FGIDs. The true incidence and prevalence of constipation is difficult to know because it may be treated at home using home remedies or diagnosed at a visit to a primary care provider or to a subspecialist pediatric gastroenterologist. The most recent attempts to define the prevalence of all pediatric FGIDs have been made using the Rome IV criteria. The defined FGID entities that may be associated with the complaint of constipation are infant dyschezia, functional constipation, and nonretentive fecal incontinence. The term encopresis, omitted from Rome IV, is defined by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition The 3 Rome-defined (constipation-related) entities and the APA entity of encopresis are the focus of this review., (© American Academy of Pediatrics, 2020. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Most American youth have siblings. This study examined the influence of early adolescents' perceptions of their older sibling's sexual activity on their own sexual attitudes and behaviors., Methods: Early adolescents (ages 12-14) at risk for emotional/behavioral problems reported on attitudes towards sex, sexual behaviors, and perception of older siblings' and peers' sexual activity and perceived parental approval toward sex. The sample was divided into 3 groups: teens who thought their older sibling was not having sex (N = 119), teens who believed their sibling was sexually active (N = 55), and teens without an older sibling (N = 170)., Results: Teens who thought their older sibling was not having sex scored higher in valuing abstinence and lower on perceptions of peer sex and maternal approval toward sex than teens who perceived their sibling to be having sex and teens without an older sibling. Regarding behaviors, teens who thought their older sibling was not having sex were less likely to endorse making out, touching genitals, oral sex, and vaginal sex compared with teens who thought their older sibling was having sex., Conclusions: Perceptions that older siblings abstain from sexual activity may be a protective factor for more conservative attitudes towards sex and decreased sexual activity among young at-risk teens. A single question about perceptions of siblings' sexual behaviors can be integrated into health care visits to introduce conversations about age-appropriate sexual decision-making.

The objective of this article is to examine associations among socioeconomic, cultural, and child factors and maternal distress among families of children with intellectual disabilities (ID). Latino and nonLatino White (NLW) mothers of children with and without ID (N  =  192) reported on familism, language acculturation, maternal distress, child adaptive functioning, and child behavior problems. Among mothers of children with ID, higher levels of child behavior problems mediated the association between Latina ethnicity and elevated maternal distress. Associations between child behavior problems and maternal distress in Latina mothers of children with ID were moderated by single-parent marital status, higher familism, and lower English usage. Thus, child and cultural factors contribute to elevated distress among Latina mothers of children with ID.

Background: Studies have shown that familial type 1 diabetes patients (FTID) have less severe metabolic derangement at presentation compared to sporadic patients (ST1D), but data on long-term metabolic control are lacking., Objective/hypothesis: (1) FT1D will have less severe presentation and better HbA1c over 5 years compared to ST1D; (2) HbA1c in the offspring will correlate with parent HbA1c in parent-offspring group; and (3) HbA1c of the second affected sibling (SP2) will correlate with the first affected sibling (SP1) in sib-pairs., Methods: Cohort of 33 parent-offspring and 19 sib-pairs; controls included 33 sporadic subjects matched by age, sex, ethnicity, puberty, and insulin regimen. Paired t-test and Pearson's correlation were used for statistical analysis., Results: At diagnosis, mean age in FT1D vs. matched ST1D (7.7±4.9 vs. 7.6±4.5 years), mean HbA1c (9.6% vs. 10.7%), HCO3 (21 vs. 18 meq/L), glucose (428 vs. 463 mg/dL) and pH (7.35 vs. 7.36; p=ns) were not different. At 5 years, HbA1c (8.9% vs. 8.8%; p=0.81), clinic visits (12 vs. 12.5, p=0.68) and emergency room visits (0.48 vs. 0.24, p=0.10) were not different. In affected siblings, only HCO3 was different (SP1:18 vs. SP2: 24 meq/L; p<0.01). HbA1c for SP2 correlated positively with SP1 (r=0.67, p<0.01). Offspring HbA1c correlated positively with affected parents (9.3% vs. 8.6%, r=0.57, p=0.18) but was not significant., Conclusion: Metabolic control at diagnosis and at 5 years was similar in FT1D and ST1D. In sib-pairs, the second affected sibling had milder clinical presentation compared to the first affected sibling.

Objective: To improve representation of minorities in research, we examined recruitment methods from our study of Latino and non-Latino families of children with Intellectual Disability (ID)., Method: We compared recruitment strategies that yielded the enrollment target of 200 matched Latino and nonLatino families of children with ID and controls. Active recruitment strategies involved direct contact with potential participants; passive strategies included disseminating study information., Results: Effective outreach focused on community agencies where children had ongoing involvement and utilizing bilingual/bicultural staff. Latino families were significantly more likely to be recruited by an active strategy than non-Latino families. Active and passive strategies were both effective with non-Latino ID families. Asking research participants to inform other families about the study and sharing consent to contact lists with other investigators was productive with control families., Conclusions: Bilingual staff and active recruitment through familiar community services were successful in recruiting Latino families for research.

Recurrent Abdominal Pain (RAP), one of the most common complaints of childhood, is associated with many adverse outcomes. However, few treatment studies have been conducted, especially for children with co-morbid RAP and anxiety disorders. The primary aim of the present study was to explore the utility of a cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) and a treatment that combined both CBT and family-based approaches in a community sample of children with co-morbid anxiety and RAP. A multiple-baseline across participants design utilizing repeated measures of anxiety and pain was implemented (n = 8 families). An examination of the clinical significance of both treatment approaches is suggestive of their utility in the treatment of anxiety and pain symptoms in children with RAP. More research is warranted in RAP treatment outcome research, particularly with family-based approaches to treatment.

Background: Siblings of children with disabilities are at risk for internalizing psychological disorders; however, little is known about how culture influences this effect. This study examined the psychological and school functioning of Latino siblings of children with intellectual disability (ID)., Methods: Participants were 100 Latino (L) and nonLatino (NL) siblings (8-15 years) of children with ID (50 LID, 50 NLID) and 100 Latino and nonLatino control siblings (50 LC, 50 NLC). Siblings, parents, and teachers completed standard questionnaires regarding sibling emotional and behavioral functioning; sibling school report cards were obtained. Analyses of variance were conducted, controlling for parent age and family income; planned contrasts compared LID siblings to the other sibling groups., Results: LID siblings reported significantly more internalizing (t(1) = 2.41, p < .05) and emotional t(1) = 3.06, p < .05) symptoms, poorer awareness of (t(1) = 2.26, p < .01) and greater reluctance to express (t(1) = 3.12, p < .01) their emotions, and more problems in personal adjustment and relationships with parents (t(1) = -2.50, p < .05). Significantly higher percentages of LID siblings scored in the at-risk or clinical range for internalizing and emotional symptoms, and were more likely to score above the clinical cut-off for separation anxiety disorder and to endorse global impairment. LID siblings experienced more school absences and lower academic performance. There were no group differences in externalizing behavior problems, somatic symptoms, or teacher-reported internalizing symptoms., Conclusions: Latino siblings of children with ID are at greater risk for internalizing psychological disorders and greater impairment in personal and school functioning. Results are discussed in terms of their sociocultural significance and clinical implications., (© 2011 The Authors. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry © 2011 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.)

Objective: To examine reports of pain, disability, and somatic and psychological symptoms among siblings of children with functional abdominal pain (FAP) and siblings of "healthy" comparison children., Methods: This survey study explored two groups of participants (FAP and healthy) consisting of (1) children with FAP and their siblings and parents and (2) healthy comparison children and their siblings, and parents. Participants included 13 FAP families and 10 healthy comparison families. Siblings and children were between 8 and 14 years of age. Measures included the Behavioral Assessment System for Children, Abdominal Pain Index, Children's Somatization Inventory, Functional Disability Inventory, and Family Inventory of Life Events. Cross-sectional data were analyzed using correlations and analysis of variance techniques., Results: Siblings of children with FAP reported significantly greater mean levels of emotional/ behavioral symptoms than siblings of healthy comparison children. No significant between-group differences were identified in FAP and healthy comparison parents' reports of siblings' pain or emotional/behavioral symptoms. There were significantly more persons with pain problems living in the homes of FAP families. Among FAP families, a greater number of parent-reported family stressful life events was significantly associated with sibling functional disability and somatic symptoms., Conclusion: This investigation suggests that siblings of children with FAP experience more emotional/behavioral symptoms than peers and that their symptoms are not readily identified by parents. These findings highlight the importance of considering the psychological functioning of "unaffected" siblings and family stressors when children present with recurrent pain complaints.

Forty matched healthy Latino and non-Latino siblings (ages 8-14 years) of children with developmental and physical disabilities completed interviews and questionnaires assessing sibling knowledge of and adjustment to disability and sibling global psychological functioning. One-way analyses of variance revealed Latino siblings to have significantly less accurate information about the disability and more internalizing problems than non-Latino siblings. Sibling and parent wishes for the healthy sibling reflected cultural values. The results indicate that Latino siblings of children with chronic disabilities may be at risk for internalizing psychological problems. Future research regarding cultural factors affecting sibling adaptation to childhood disability is encouraged., (Copyright 2006 APA, all rights reserved).)