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The Adjustment of Non-Disabled Siblings of Children with Autism

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders volume 37, pages 1060–1067 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

This study compared the psychosocial and emotional adjustment of siblings of children with autism and siblings of non-disabled children. In addition, differences between self and parent reports, as well as various demographic characteristics were examined. Fifty-one siblings of children with autism and 35 siblings of non-disabled children, between the ages of 7 and 17, along with one parent of each sibling, participated. Results indicated that the presence of a child with autism appears to enhance the psychosocial and emotional development of non-disabled siblings when demographic risk factors are limited. However, the presence of a child with autism appears to have an increasingly unfavorable impact on the non-disabled sibling as demographic risk factors increase.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, MLC 4002, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, 45229-3039, USA

    Ryan J. Macks

  2. Curry Programs in Clinical and School Psychology, University of Virginia, 405 Emmet Street, Charlottesville, VA, 22904-4261, USA

    Ronald E. Reeve

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  1. Ryan J. Macks
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  2. Ronald E. Reeve
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Correspondence to Ryan J. Macks.

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Macks, R.J., Reeve, R.E. The Adjustment of Non-Disabled Siblings of Children with Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 37, 1060–1067 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0249-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0249-0

Keywords

  • Families
  • Children with autism
  • Autistic children
  • Psychosocial adjustment and development