Ambiguous Loss in the Family: Sibling Perspectives of Change and Caregiving in the Context of Mental Illness

ABSTRACT

This qualitative study examines the lived experiences of emerging adults (aged 18–29) who have siblings with mental illness (aged 12–16), with a focus on family dynamics, emotional well‐being and caregiving responsibilities. Drawing on in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with 32 participants recruited via snowball sampling and social media, this study explores how mental illness within the family reshapes sibling relationships and everyday family life. Findings indicate substantial disruptions to family routines, roles and traditions, often involving modifications or cancellations of shared family activities. Many participants described assuming caregiving roles, either towards their parents or their siblings, which frequently entailed relinquishing their former position within the family system. In some cases, the presence of mental illness was associated with emotional distance, estrangement and reduced communication between siblings. Interpreted through the lens of Boss's theory of ambiguous loss, the findings illuminate the complex, ongoing and often unacknowledged losses experienced by siblings of individuals with mental illness. Ambiguous loss is applied as an interpretive lens rather than as a claim that siblinghood in the context of mental illness can be reduced to loss, and the analysis attends to continuity and commitment alongside change. This study underscores the importance of recognizing siblings as a distinct group affected by mental illness within the family and highlights implications for social work practice, including the need for family‐centered interventions, sibling‐sensitive assessment and supportive services that address caregiving burden and relational loss.