| The sibling relationship is a lifelong connection with the potential for continual nurturance and support, as well as discord and distance. Across development, positive sibling relationships are associated with better psychological adjustment and wellbeing. Sibling relationships involving a child with ADHD are often characterized with higher conflict and lower warmth than sibling relationships without ADHD, particularly when comorbid issues are present. As siblings transition to adulthood, they develop new responsibilities and independence outside of the family that can influence how they perceive and relate to each other. No prior studies have looked at sibling relationships involving ADHD outside of childhood and adolescence. The purpose of the current study was to examine the quality of sibling relationships involving ADHD in young adulthood, mainly characterized by levels of warmth and conflict in the sibling relationship. Specifically, this study investigated the interactions between individuals' ADHD knowledge and cognitive and affective empathy for their siblings with ADHD, and examined the influences of these variables in predicting warmth and conflict in young adult sibling relationships involving ADHD.;Participants completed an online survey comprised of a demographic questionnaire and measurements of each variable. The following instruments were used: Jerome ADHD Knowledge Questionnaire for ADHD knowledge, IRIC-Siblings for cognitive empathy and affective empathy, and Adult Sibling Relationships Questionnaire for sibling warmth, conflict, and rivalry. The final sample was 172 participants between 18 and 25 years old with siblings with ADHD within five years of their age.;The results revealed that cognitive empathy and affective empathy positively predicted sibling warmth and negatively predicted conflict. ADHD knowledge was positively associated with affective empathy, yet ADHD knowledge was not significantly related to cognitive empathy or sibling relationship qualities. Exploratory analyses examined associations between sibling rivalry and predictor variables, and found no significant associations. These findings indicate the important role of empathy for siblings with ADHD in predicting the quality of sibling relationships involving ADHD in young adulthood. These findings breed more clarity of ways to help these siblings understand, communicate, and relate, with the hope of providing each sibling with unconditional support and companionship. |
