Health-Related Quality of Life Among Siblings of Children with Special Needs and Typically Developing Children in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study

With the global rise in children with disabilities, their siblings may experience various impacts on their daily lives. This study investigates health-related quality of life (QOL) and related factors among siblings of students attending special-needs schools in Japan. A cross-sectional study was conducted with two groups: 71 siblings of children with disabilities and a control group of 398 siblings of typically developing children, using the KINDLR QOL scale. Results showed a median QOL score for siblings of children with disabilities of 72.92 versus 71.88 for siblings of typically developing children (p = 0.711). This lack of significant difference may be attributed to existing social support systems and special-needs schools in Japan, which may reduce the burden on siblings of children with disabilities. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining and improving support systems for siblings of children with disabilities while continuously monitoring their well-being at home and in their communities.