Syskon och Downs syndrom
En kvalitativ studie
People with Down syndrome are living longer lives today thanks to medical science. These people with their families are in need of assistance from goverments and professionals throughout their lives. It is therefore important to understand how familymembers affected by having a person with Down syndrome in the family. In this paper we focus on the siblings' experience. This study aims to examine four women's experiences of what it is like to have a sibling with Down syndrome and how the respondents have developed their role and identity as siblings, and what strategies they have developed for this role. To examine this, a qualitative interviewguide was used. Respondents were recruited via the snowball method and the author's own contacts. As an interpretive framework for this essay, I have chosen to base much of my theory about role-and identity-concepts and the meaning of siblinghood and how gender is linked to the nursing ability and responsibility of an individual. The results show that respondents perceive their sibling relationship as normal with their disabled sibling. However, there has been some special treatment. The results also show that respondents have a very close relationship with their sibling with Down syndrome and that everyone can see a future where they have a caring and responsible role to their siblings.