Analyzing the Effectiveness of Communication Skills on Sibling Relationship of Adolescents With Down Syndrome

Objectives: Sibling relationships are often among the long-lasting relationships and more than two-thirds of adolescents with siblings introduce their siblings as the most important people in their life. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of communication skills on sibling relationships among adolescents with Down syndrome. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study based on a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. A total of 60 adolescents were members of the Iranian association for Down syndrome in Tehran City, Iran. From this population, 30 adolescents were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were divided into two groups (experimental and control). At first, the adolescents’ parents responded to the sibling relationship questionnaire. Then, the experimental group attended 10 sessions on communication skills. Following the tenth session, parents completed the sibling relationship questionnaire once more. The data were analyzed using a multivariate analysis of covariance. Results: The results showed that the experimental group experienced a significant increase in two dimensions of warmth/closeness and conflict following the intervention program compared to the control group (P<0.01). However, the difference between the two groups was not significant in the other dimensions, namely relative status/power and rivalry. Discussion: It seems that communication skills training is an appropriate intervention to improve sibling relationships of adolescents with Down syndrome.