Supporting Young Siblings of Children with Disabilities with the Serious Game ‘Broodles’: A Mixed Methods Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Siblings of children with disabilities experience conflicting emotions and have an increased risk of mental health problems. Several sibling interventions have been developed, but few are readily available, leaving many siblings without support. Therefore, an easily accessible, sibling serious game was developed. This study assessed the effectiveness of ‘Broodles’ in promoting quality of life, and a range of inter- and intrapersonal factors in siblings (6–9 years) of children with intellectual disabilities or visual impairments. Social validity and perceived learning outcomes were evaluated. Methods: A randomized controlled trial with a waitlist control group was conducted. In total, 107 parent-child dyads completed questionnaires at three timepoints, across 12–14 weeks. The intervention group also completed post-test interviews. Interaction effects were assessed using multilevel modelling, and thematic analysis was applied to the evaluations. Results: Significant, weak interaction effects were found on sibling negative adjustment, but only in those who completed ≥75% of the game or followed the study timeline. Regardless of group, (very) small, significant improvements over time were found on several outcomes. ‘Broodles’ was experienced as fun (80%) and helpful (79%). Perceived learning outcomes were present on the themes: ‘sibling awareness and validation’, ‘emotions and needs’, ‘coping with emotions and situations’ and ‘family interactions’. Conclusion: Although quantitative data showed small effects, qualitative data revealed a variety of learning outcomes which can contribute to siblings’ resilience, and prevention of mental health problems. To unlock its full potential, future studies should examine how adding intervention elements can enhance the intervention’s impact.