ABSTRACT
In order to understand the experience of sibling loss, one must first understand the influence a sibling relationship can have on an individual. Seen as potentially one of the longest relationships in a person's life (Craft-Rosenberg, Montgomery, Hill, Kauder, & Eisbach, 2011), a sibling relationship can be a very unique and special bond between kin. At the same time, the relationship can also be a tumultuous experience for those involved. Described as one of the most ambivalent types of relationships (Edward, 2011), and involving an inherent competitive dynamic (Craft-Rosenberg et al., 2011), siblings can be seen playing cohesively one minute and then be involved in a verbal or physical conflict the next. Sibling pairs can even be inseparable during one part of their lives and then “distant ghosts” in another (Edward, 2011).
