A qualitative meta-analysis on the lived experience of siblings of persons with mental illness

Front Psychol. 2026 May 5;17:1787699. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1787699. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

Having a brother or sister with mental illness (MI) has a profound effect on well-siblings’ health, quality of life, and relationships, and there is relatively little knowledge about their needs for information and support. The article presents a qualitative meta-analysis examining the lived experience of well-siblings of persons with MI. We explored the EBSCOHost, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Web of Science, with regards to the search terms “sibling* or brother* or sister*” AND “mental ill or mental illness or mental disease* or mental disorder*” in the abstract, AND “qualitativ* or thematic analys* or grounded theory or phenomenolog* or content analys* or narrative analys*” in any field. Using a critical-constructivist grounded theory qualitative meta-analytic approach, from 369 potentially eligible articles, we reviewed 42 qualitative studies (a total of 565 participants; 63.2% sisters) to understand the lived experience of well-siblings of persons with MI. Inclusion criteria were: (a) be peer-reviewed journal articles published until November 30, 2025; (b) be a qualitative study; (c) be in the English language; and (d) focus exclusively on describing the experience of well-siblings of persons with MI. Findings indicated that MI significantly affects well-siblings’ emotions, health, and well-being, as well as academic, working, and personal life; that well-siblings feel excluded, abandoned or treated as secondary, and have to keep their needs or feeling to themselves or have to suppress them not to burden others. Findings also indicated that well-siblings express their need of information on MI issues, as well as their need for support from significant others and from mental health practitioners. Furthermore, findings indicated that well-siblings also experienced positive changes and personal growth at different levels in facing with their brother or sister’s MI, as well as hope in the future. Finally, findings indicated that in dealing with MI, well-siblings adopt different caregiving roles, as well as different coping strategies. Giving voice to well-siblings of people with MI, this meta-analysis illuminates the challenges they experience and provides a basis for recommendations to support them in facing their emotional burden and their caregiving role.

PMID:42164798 | PMC:PMC13183649 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1787699