Life Course Outcomes of Individuals Growing up with a Sibling with a Disability.

Lara Bister , University Of Groningen
Nicoletta Balbo, Bocconi University
Hanna Remes, University of Helsinki
Elena Neri, Bocconi University
Pekka Martikainen, University of Helsinki

Research suggests that having a sibling with a disability may substantially affect individuals’ social, demographic, and economic trajectories, often leading to life course disadvantages. However, findings are scarce and based on small convenience samples. This study explores life course trajectories from adolescence to early adulthood of individuals who grew up with a disabled sibling (e.g., educational outcomes, leaving the parental home, family formation). Using total population Finnish register data, we compare their outcomes to those who grew up without siblings with disabilities, matching the individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics. We envision siblings of disabled individuals to be polarized in their outcomes, either being highly performing or very vulnerable. Our study will be the first to provide a comprehensive overview of how demographic processes may be influenced by disabilities in the family and thereby will make a significant contribution to understanding the far-reaching family consequences of disability.

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 Presented in Session P1. Fertility, Family, Life Course