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Emotional and Behavioral Adjustment in Typically Developing Siblings of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Abstract

Research findings describing the emotional and behavioral functioning of typically developing (TD) siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are contradictory. Methodological issues, such as small study sample sizes and reliance on parent report, may contribute to inconsistent findings. The purpose of this study was to use parent and teacher report to describe presence of internalizing and externalizing behaviors among a large sample (n = 486) of TD siblings of children with ASD. Results indicated that siblings did not exhibit a disproportionate prevalence of internalizing or externalizing symptoms in comparison to the standardization sample of the rating scale. The presence of a sibling with an ASD may not be considered a risk-factor for adjustment problems among TD siblings.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to all of the families at the participating SFARI Simplex Collection (SSC) sites, as well as the principal investigators (A. Beaudet, R. Bernier, J. Constantino, E. Cook, E. Fombonne, D. Geschwind, D. Grice, A. Klin, D. Ledbetter, C. Lord, C. Martin, D. Martin, R. Maxim, J. Miles, O. Ousley, B. Peterson, J. Piggot, C. Saulnier, M. State, W. Stone, J. Sutcliffe, C. Walsh, E. Wijsman). We appreciate obtaining access to phenotypic data on SFARI Base. Approved researchers can obtain the SSC population dataset described in this study ((https://ordering.base.sfari.org/~browse_collection/archive[sfari_collection_v8_2]/ui:view()) by applying at https://base.sfari.org. Portions of this manuscript were presented in an abstract at the National Association of School Psychologist’s Annual Convention in February, 2011.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, MSB-2.106, 6431 Fannin, Houston, TX, 77030-1503, USA

    Allison G. Dempsey

  2. University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Ashlie Llorens, Christie Brewton & Simmi Mulchandani

  3. Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Robin P. Goin-Kochel

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  1. Allison G. Dempsey
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Correspondence to Allison G. Dempsey.

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Dempsey, A.G., Llorens, A., Brewton, C. et al. Emotional and Behavioral Adjustment in Typically Developing Siblings of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 42, 1393–1402 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1368-9

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