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Patterns and Predictors of Anxiety Among Siblings of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine patterns of anxiety among siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and determine the characteristics of the child with ASD and their parents that predicted anxiety. Data was collected from 1,755 siblings of children with ASD whose families participated in the Simons Simplex Collection; siblings ranged in age from 3 to 18 years (M = 9 years). Male siblings were at increased risk for sub-clinical anxiety problems during middle childhood. Parental history of anxiety disorders, higher maternal pragmatic language, and more proband behavior problems predicted higher anxiety. While siblings overall did not show elevated anxiety symptoms, higher rates of sub-clinical anxiety problems among males and siblings in middle childhood are cause for concern.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative for the use of their data, with special thanks to Alison Vehorn and Melissa Potter for their help obtaining data. Core support was received from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P30 HD15052, E. M. Dykens, PI). Thanks to Dr. Warren Lambert for statistical consultation. The authors report no financial interests or potential conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA

    Carolyn M. Shivers

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, USA

    Julie Lounds Taylor

  3. Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA

    Carolyn M. Shivers, Lauren K. Deisenroth & Julie Lounds Taylor

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  1. Carolyn M. Shivers
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Correspondence to Julie Lounds Taylor.

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Shivers, C.M., Deisenroth, L.K. & Taylor, J.L. Patterns and Predictors of Anxiety Among Siblings of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 43, 1336–1346 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1685-7

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