Significant attention has been paid in the literature to sibling relationships and the effects of birth order, family size, and gender on such relationships. Although these are important areas to study, there is relatively little research on the effects of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) on sibling relationships. The existent research identifies both positive and negative factors in such sibling relationships. This paper analyzes the studies that are available on ASD and sibling relationships, discusses findings, identifies implications, and makes recommendations for improving sibling relationships when one sibling has ASD.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American Psychiatric AssociationDiagnostic and statistical manual of mental disordersWashington, DC2000th ed.
2.
BagenholmA.GillbergC.Psychosocial effects on siblings of children with autism and mental retardation: A population based studyJournal of Mental Deficiency Research35291–3071991
3.
BrodyG. H.Sibling relationships’ quality, its causes and consequencesAnnual Review Psychology491–241998
4.
BrodyG. H.StonemanZ.DavisH.CrappsH.Observations of the role relations between older children with mntal retardation and their younger siblingsAmerican Journal of Mental Retardation95527–5361991
5.
CelibertiA.HarrisL.Behavioral intervention for siblings of children with autism: A focus on skills to enhance playBehavior Therapy24573–5991993
6.
Center for Disease Control and PreventionPrevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report561–442007
7.
DonenbergG.BakerL.The impact of young children with externalizing behaviors on their familiesJournal of Abnormal Child Psychology21179–2001993
8.
DunnJ.SlomkowskiC.BeardsallL.Sibling relationships from the preschool period through middle childhood and early adolescentsJournal of Developmental Psychology30315–3241994
9.
El-GhorouryH.RomanczykG.Play interactions of family members towards children with autismJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders28249–2581999
10.
FiedlerR.SimpsonL.ClarkM.Parents and families of children with disabilitiesPearson Prentice HallEnglewood Cliffs, NJ2005
11.
FismanS.WolfL.EllisonD.GillusB.FreemanT.SzatmariP.Risk and protective factors affecting the adjustment of siblings of children with chronic disabilitiesJournal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry351532–15411996
12.
FodenJ.Sibling studies: The good, the bad, and the contradictory. Interactive Autism Network Community2007
13.
GlasbergB.The development of sibling's understanding of autismJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders30143–4562000
14.
HarrisS.Sibling issues2007
15.
HarrisS.GlasbergB.Siblings of children with autism: A guide for familiesWoodbine HousePortland OR1994
16.
HodappM.UrbanoC.Adult siblings of individuals with Down syndrome versus with autism: Findings from a large scale US surveyJournal of Intellectual Disabilities Research5110018–100292007
17.
HoweN.PetrakosH.RinaldiM.All the sheep are dead. He murdered them: Sibling pre-tense, negotiation, internal state language, and relationship quality1998Child Development69182–191
18.
HowlinP.Living with impairments: The effects on children having an autistic sibling. Child: Care, Health, and Development14395–4081988
19.
KaminskyL.DeweyD.Siblings relationships of children with autismJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders31399–4102001
20.
KimY.MchaleM.WayneD.OsgoodD.CrouterA.Longitudinal course and family correlates of sibling relationships from childhood through adolescenceJournal of Child Development771746–17612006
21.
KnottF.LewisC.WilliamsT.Sibling interactions of children with learning disabilities: A comparison of autism and Down's syndromeJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry6965–9761995
22.
MaschaK.BoyrcherJ.Preliminary investigation of a qualitative method of examining siblings’ experiences of living with a child with ASDJournal of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities5219–282006
23.
MchaleS.SloanJ.SimeonssonJ.Sibling relationships of children with autism, mentally retarded, and nonhandicapped brothers and sistersJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders16399–4131986
24.
MeyerD.Meeting the unique concerns of brothers of sisters of children with special needs. Insights5128–322001
25.
MeyerJ.VadasyF.Sibshops: Workshops for siblings of children with special needsBrookesBaltimore, MD1994
26.
OrsmondI.SeltzerM.Siblings of individuals with autism spectrum disorders across the life courseMental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews13313–3202007
27.
ReagonK.HigbeeT.EndicottK.Teaching pretend play skills to students with autism using video modeling with siblings as model and play partnersEducation and Treatment of Children29517–5282006
28.
RiversW.StonemanZ.Sibling relationships when a child has autism: Marital stress and support copingJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders33383–3942003
29.
RoeyersH.MyckeK.Siblings of a child with autism, with mental retardation, and with normal developmentJournal of Child Care, Health, and Development21305–3191995
30.
RossJ.CuskellyM.Adjustment of sibling problems and coping strategies of brothers and sisters of children with autism spectrum disordersJournal of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities3177–862006
31.
RutterM.SchoplerE.Autism and pervasive developmental disorders: Concepts and diagnostic issuesJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders17159–1861987
32.
SchreibmanL.O'neillE.KoegelL.Behavioral training for siblings of autistic childrenJournal of Applied Behavior Analysis16129–1381983
33.
SeligmanM.Family with a handicapped child: Understanding and treatmentGrune & StrattonNew York1983
34.
SmithK.HartH.Blackwell handbook of childhood social developmentBlackwell PublishingMalden, MA2002
35.
SmithT.PollowayE.PattonJ.DowdyC.Teaching students with special needs in inclusive settingPearson EducationBoston2008th ed.
36.
StonemanZ.BrodyH.DavisC.CrappsM.MaloneM.Ascribed role relationships between children with mental retardation and their siblingsAmerican Journal of Mental Retardation95537–5501991
37.
TrevinoF.Siblings of handicapped children: Identifying those at riskSocial Casework60488–4931979
