ABSTRACT

PARENTS’ EXPERIENCE IN OVERCOMING TODDLER’S REACTION

TO THE SIBLING UNDERGOING HOSPITALIZATION

Dagu Fidelis1, Mukaromah Siti2, Sinaga Sumiati3

Background: The condition of sick children will also draw attention from
parents, this will cause a reaction from siblings who try to regain attention and
time from parents who have prioritized their sick siblings which is called sibling
rivalry. Sibling rivalry is a competition between siblings to get love, affection and
attention from one or both parents, or to get recognition or something more. In
this case the role of parents is very crucial in overcoming reactions to sibling that
arise to avoid conflicts and other problems that can arise in the development of
emotional and personality as well as future interactions of children.
Research Objective: Describe the experience of parents in overcoming sibling
reactions of toddler-age children to siblings who are undergoing hospitalization.
Method: This study used a qualitative research method with a phenomenological
approach with 5 participants fulfilling the criteria. Informants in this study were
taken by purposive sampling technique.
Result: This study produced five themes, namely changes in sibling behavior as a
response to the process of hospitalization to his siblings, parents’ efforts to control
sibling reactions, parental difficulties in overcoming sibling reactions, the way
parents overcome obstacles and parents' expectations of sibling attitudes.
Conclusion: Parents' experience in overcoming sibling reaction of toddler-age
children to siblings undergoing hospitalization is the same, children respond to
parents by behaving aggressively and seeking attention and to control sibling
behavior, parents try to fulfill his or her requests, provide explanations and even
sanction . The difficulties encountered by parents about the age of children who
are too small to understand information so parents overcome it by trying to give
attention, understand and try to control emotions to their children. Parents hope
that sibling can understand the conditions being faced by parents so that the role
of parents can be optimal.

Keywords: Parents' Experience, Sibling Rivalry, Hospitality

1
Student of Nursing Program, Institute of Health Science Wiyata Husada Samarinda.
2
Lecturer of Nursing Program, Institute of Health Science Wiyata Husada Samarinda.
3
Lecturer of Nursing Program, Institute of Health Science Wiyata Husada Samarinda.

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