The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review of the psychometric properties of the Sibling Perception Questionnaire (SPQ) in children with a sibling with a chronic illness. Full-text journal articles were located in APA PsycInfo and PubMed databases and by searching the reference lists of studies. Studies included reported on the psychometric properties of at least one domain of the SPQ in children under 18 years who had a sibling with a chronic health condition. Twenty-three studies met inclusion criteria. The quality of the evidence was assessed with the COSMIN Risk of Bias Checklist. None of the included studies reported on all 10 properties recommended by COSMIN and there was extensive variability in the quality of methods used to assess the psychometric properties of the SPQ across studies. The negative adjustment scale demonstrated the strongest internal consistency reliability across the studies included in the review. Eight studies assessed convergent validity, with all but one demonstrating the SPQ total score to be adequately correlated with like constructs. The studies included in the review provided preliminary support for the responsive of the SPQ in detecting clinically significant changes due to an intervention. Taken as a whole, findings from this review provide preliminary evidence for the SPQ as a reliable, valid, and responsive measure in children who have a chronically ill sibling. Future studies with stronger methodological quality and that assess test re-test reliability, known groups validity, and the factor structure of the SPQ are needed. This work did not receive any funding and the authors have no competing interests to declare.
Keywords: assessment; child; chronic illness; psychometrics; sibling perception questionnaire; siblings.