Abstract
The primary goal of this study was to examine differences between brothers and sisters of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, according to sex (brothers/sisters) and the type of disability diagnosed in the sibling (intellectual disability or autism). The study examined brothers’ and sisters’ involvement in the lives of their sibling with the disability, their personal resources (self-efficacy, sense of coherence), feelings of loneliness, and their adjustment (mental health). There were 99 participants in the study, 59 siblings of individuals with intellectual disability and 40 of individuals with autism. Participants completed self-report questionnaires examining involvement, resources (self-efficacy, sense of coherence), loneliness, and adjustment (mental health). MANOVAs were used to examine differences between brothers and sisters. Results of the study revealed significantly higher levels of involvement, self-efficacy, and adjustment (mental health) for sisters compared to brothers, and significantly higher levels of loneliness for brothers compared to sisters. Similarly, there were differences based on the disability, such that those with a sibling with autism reported less distress than those with a sibling with intellectual disability. The study’s findings can serve as a basis for current and professional knowledge, and contribute to intervention programs to support siblings and rely on these findings to address the needs of both brothers and sisters.
Highlights
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The study examined differences between brothers and sisters of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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Sisters showed higher levels of involvement, self-efficacy, sense of coherence, and adjustment compared to brothers.
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Brothers of individuals with ID revealed higher levels of distress than brothers of individuals with ASD.
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Intervention programs that specifically target sisters and brothers of individuals with IDD should be designed.
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Siman-Tov, A., Sharabi, A. Differences Between Typically-Developing Brothers & Sisters of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities. J Child Fam Stud 32, 1559–1570 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-023-02574-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-023-02574-4