Abstract
The following study investigates the effect of children with mental health or behavior problems (CMBPs) on the family dynamic, with a focus on siblings of CMBPs outcomes. Due to a small sample size of 22 participants (7 parents, 7 CMBPs, and 8 siblings of CMBPs), the study is under powered. The majority of parents identified as white (85.71%) and female (85.71%). The majority of children identified as white (66%) and male (60%). It was hypothesized that CMBP externalizing symptoms would be positively correlated with CMBP sibling bullying, siblings of CMBPs internalizing, siblings of CMBPs externalizing symptoms, parental stress, and siblings of CMBPs attachment security. There was no significant correlation amongst CMBP externalizing, siblings of CMBPs internalizing, siblings of CMBPs externalizing symptoms, parental stress, and attachment security between parents and siblings of CMBPs. Linear regression analysis revealed that CMBP externalizing symptoms significantly negatively predicted externalizing symptoms for siblings of CMBPs who were younger than the CMBP in their family. The following study offers new insight on how to conceptualize CMBPs and siblings of CMBPs, with both CMBPs and siblings of CMBPs having higher internalizing than externalizing difficulties. However, a larger sample size is needed to understand the key predictors of siblings of CMBPs internalizing, externalizing outcomes.