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Typicality and Subtle Difference in Sibling Relationships: Experiences of Adolescents with Autism

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Abstract

Although researchers have explored siblings’ perspectives on their relationships with a brother or sister with autism, there is a lack of research on the perspective of the child with an ASD. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 adolescents with an ASD. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyse the data. Two major themes emerged from the analytic process: 1. Adolescents’ reports of seemingly typical sibling interactions, and 2. A typical sibling interactions influenced by having an ASD. Despite the social context reinforcing views that autism impacts the sibling relationship in an atypical way, the overwhelming sense from participants was of typical sibling relationships. The assumption of atypical relationships in families of children with autism may need to be re-evaluated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2AS, UK

    Michael A. Petalas, Richard P. Hastings & Susie Nash

  2. Top-Up Doctorate in Forensic Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

    Simon Duff

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  1. Michael A. Petalas
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  2. Richard P. Hastings
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  3. Susie Nash
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  4. Simon Duff
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Correspondence to Michael A. Petalas.

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Petalas, M.A., Hastings, R.P., Nash, S. et al. Typicality and Subtle Difference in Sibling Relationships: Experiences of Adolescents with Autism. J Child Fam Stud 24, 38–49 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-013-9811-5

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