The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of parental differential treatment and social support perceived by adolescents with siblings having special needs on their self-esteem and internalized problems. In this study, subjects were one hundred 10- to 18-year-old adolescents with siblings having special needs recruited from Daegu city, Ulsan city and Gyeongsangbuk-do. To investigate parental differential treatment perceived by adolescents, social support, self-esteem and internalized problems, the designed questionnaire was used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson''s correlation coefficient, Cronbach''s α, t-test, analysis of variance(ANOVA) and hierarchial regression analysis.
The major findings of this study were as follows;
First, there were significant differences in adolescents''s self-esteem by participation in support programs for siblings of children with special needs.
Second, there was a signigicant effect of paternal differential treatment on adolescents''s self-esteem, specifically teacher-related self. And there was a significant effect of maternal differential treatment on adolescents''s self-esteem such subscales of home self, peer-related self and teacher-related self.
Third, there was a significant effect of social support on adolescents''s self-esteem.
fourth, there was a moderate effect of social support on paternal differential parenting and adolescents''s self-esteem, specifically physical-appearance self.
Fifth, there was no effect of paternal differential parenting on adolescents''s internalized problems. However, there was a significant effect of maternal differential treatment on adolescents''s internalized problems.
Sixth, there was a significant effect of social support on adolescents''s internalized problem.
Seventh, there was no moderate effect of social support on parental differential parenting and adolescents''s internalized problem.
In conclusion, the impact of social support on adolescents''s self-esteem and internalized problems were significant. And parental differential parenting affected on adolescents''s self-esteem. Also, maternal differential parenting affected on adolescents''s internalized problems. Thus, social support and maternal differential parenting had an important role in adolescents''s self esteem and internalized problems.