Effects of Adlerian Birth Order and Disabilities on Sibling Relational Dynamics: An Inclusive Heuristic Inquiry

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine how birth order and disabilities impact family dynamics by gaining an in-depth understanding of individual family members’ lived experiences. Although researchers have previously examined this phenomenon, a noticeable gap in the literature highlighted that the voice of the disabled sibling is unheard. The significance of this study was the inclusion of all consenting siblings in a family case study to explore the impact of disabilities on sibling-relational dynamics and birth order so that individuals with disabilities have a platform to share their experiences alongside their non-disabled siblings. In consideration of Adler’s (1931) birth order, I explored how disabled and non-disabled siblings experience the impact of disabilities on the allocation of family roles and sibling-relational dynamics. Results highlighted themes of awareness, evolution, and direct impact; these results may contribute to a broader perspective for future counselling practices with families who live with disability.