Experiences of Special Sibling Relationships : An Arts-Based Study
Mesimäki, Erja (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025073123762
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025073123762
Tiivistelmä
This qualitative and arts-based study explores how adult siblings describe their experiences of their special sibling relationships after arts- and creativity-related activities. The conceptual framework in this study opens up perspectives on (dis)ability and special sibling relationships and approaches the experiences of special sibling relationships through the Sibling Embedded Systems Framework (SESF).
This study included two arts- and creativity-related workshops for legal adults who have or have had a sibling with a (dis)ability. The purpose was that the participants could share their experiences, feelings and thoughts about their special sibling relationship with peers and thereby experience support and understanding. In addition, the purpose was to create such an arts- and creativity-related ground where the participants could achieve affordances to expand their insights beyond analytic thinking. The data in this study was collected through unstructured group interviews and analysed through qualitative content analysis.
The findings of this study are divided into three categories: 1) experiences in childhood, 2) experiences in adolescence and 3) experiences and thoughts about the present and the future. The data analysis showed how the participants processed their family bonds and various systems, which have provided or are providing social support. The key findings are related to the importance of social support when increasing the wellbeing of able-bodied siblings. For future research, it would be beneficial to explore how exo- and macrosystems or factors such as gender, family size, age difference or the type of (dis)ability can influence the experiences of special sibling relationship. The future research could also focus on how arts- and creativity-related activities can be utilised in interaction between the research participants and their environment.
This study included two arts- and creativity-related workshops for legal adults who have or have had a sibling with a (dis)ability. The purpose was that the participants could share their experiences, feelings and thoughts about their special sibling relationship with peers and thereby experience support and understanding. In addition, the purpose was to create such an arts- and creativity-related ground where the participants could achieve affordances to expand their insights beyond analytic thinking. The data in this study was collected through unstructured group interviews and analysed through qualitative content analysis.
The findings of this study are divided into three categories: 1) experiences in childhood, 2) experiences in adolescence and 3) experiences and thoughts about the present and the future. The data analysis showed how the participants processed their family bonds and various systems, which have provided or are providing social support. The key findings are related to the importance of social support when increasing the wellbeing of able-bodied siblings. For future research, it would be beneficial to explore how exo- and macrosystems or factors such as gender, family size, age difference or the type of (dis)ability can influence the experiences of special sibling relationship. The future research could also focus on how arts- and creativity-related activities can be utilised in interaction between the research participants and their environment.