SELF-ESTEEM, LOCUS OF CONTROL, AND CAREER ASPIRATIONS OF COLLEGE-AGE SIBLINGS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

This investigation assessed the differences among self-esteem, locus of control, and career aspirations of college-age siblings of individuals with disabilities (sibling-Ds) and classmates who had nondisabled siblings (sibling-Ns). This study also determined whether variables such as gender, gender compatibility, ordinal position, family socioeconomic status, and type of disability influenced sibling-Ds' self-esteem, locus of control, and career aspirations. A quasi-experimental field study compared the perceptions of 30 sibling-Ds and 30 randomly selected sibling-Ns. A comprehensive four-port questionnaire was developed that included questions about demographic characteristics, self-esteem, internal versus external locus of control, and advantages and disadvantages of growing up with a sibling who has a disability. Although sibling-Ds and. sibling-Ns reported similar levels of self-esteem, sibling-Ds demonstrated significantly higher levels of internal locus of central. These findings support positively oriented literature, thus providing families with a child with a disability hope that their situation may have longterm benefits for all members.