THE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF A DISABLED SIBLING FOR SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN

Abstract

We find the presence of a sibling with disability in a household is associated with greater risk of lower health status, unmet needs for routine medical care, and number of bed days due to sickness or injury. This is true both for children with or without disability. These relationships persist with controls for other aspects of the family environment that are associated with disability (socioeconomic status, family structure, and labor force participation). Having a co-resident sibling with disability rivals poverty, minority race or ethnic status, and one-parent households as a major risk factor for these negative child health outcomes.

Citation

Hogan, D.P., Park, J.M. and Goldscheider, F.K. (2003), "THE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF A DISABLED SIBLING FOR SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN", Altman, B.M., Barnartt, S.N., Hendershot, G.E. and Larson, S.A. (Ed.) Using Survey Data to Study Disability: Results from the National Health Survey on Disability (Research in Social Science and Disability, Vol. 3), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 185-205. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1479-3547(03)03010-0