Research that gauges family quality of life in families that include a child with a disability has often focused on the relationship between parents and the child, but in doing so they underestimate the importance of the sibling relationship: siblings are in each other’s lives generally for a much longer period of time than parents are. The sibling relationship is not intrinsically positive or negative, but it is a dynamic and critical bond; from it children can learn to understand and advocate for themselves and each other in the context of the disability. The sibling relationship is a lifelong one. Nurturing it in the early stages of development will not only support family quality of life, but will set the foundation for healthy adult sibling relationships that can create positive outcomes for all members of the family. The important aspects of nurturing the sibling relationship are considered from the viewpoint of both sibling and parent. The assumptions that inform sibling relationships are discussed, and suggestions for nurturing them are provided.

中文翻译：

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家庭生活质量和抚养关系

衡量包括残疾儿童在内的家庭的家庭生活质量的研究通常侧重于父母与孩子之间的关系，但这样做却低估了兄弟姐妹关系的重要性：兄弟姐妹通常在彼此的生活中比父母更长的时间。兄弟姐妹关系本质上不是正面的或负面的，而是动态而关键的纽带。从中，孩子们可以学习在残疾的情况下为自己和彼此理解和主张。兄弟姐妹的关系是终身的关系。在发展的早期阶段对其进行养育不仅将支持家庭生活质量，而且将为建立健康的成年兄弟姐妹关系奠定基础，从而为家庭的所有成员创造积极的成果。从兄弟姐妹和父母的角度考虑培育兄弟姐妹关系的重要方面。讨论了告知兄弟姐妹关系的假设，并提供了培养它们的建议。