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Siblings of learning disabled children: Are they special, too?

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Abstract

Siblings of learning disabled children frequently establish rigidly defined and overdetermined roles in their families. Whether their role is as super achiever or the acting out child, these young people usually have low self esteem. They do not feel special. These roles will be discussed and explored in terms of the internalized expectations they represent which are derived, in part, from the narcissistic investment which parents direct towards these siblings. Implications for prevention and intervention will be addressed.

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Atkins, S.P. Siblings of learning disabled children: Are they special, too?. Child Adolesc Soc Work J 8, 525–533 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00755239

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