Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

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

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Achenbach, T. M., & Edelbrock, C. (1983). Manual for the child behavior checklist and revised child behavior profile. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont.

    Google Scholar 

  • Achenbach, T. M., & Rescorla, L. A. (2001). Manual for the ASBEA school-age forms and profiles. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostics and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-IV-TR) (4th ed., text revision). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

  • Barnard, K. E., & Solchany, J. E. (2002). Mothering. In M. H. Bernstein (Ed.), Handbook of parenting (Vol. 3, pp. 3–25)., Being and becoming a parent Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beesdo, K., Knappe, S., & Pine, D. S. (2009). Anxiety and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents: Developmental issues and implications for DSM-V. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 32(3), 483–524.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Benson, P. R., & Karlof, K. L. (2008). Child, parent, and family predictors of latter adjustment in siblings of children with autism. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2(4), 583–600.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein, G. A., Borchardt, C. M., & Perwien, A. R. (1996). Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents: A review of the past 10 years. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 35(9), 1110–1119.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bongers, I. L., Koot, H. M., van der Ende, J., & Verhulst, F. C. (2003). The normative development of child and adolescent problem behavior. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 112(2), 179–192.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cartwright-Hatton, S. (2006). Editorial: Anxiety of childhood and adolescence: Challenges and opportunities. Clinical Psychology Review, 26(7), 813–816.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cartwright-Hatton, S., McNicol, K., & Doubleday, E. (2006). Anxiety in a neglected population: Prevalence of anxiety disorders in pre-adolescent children. Clinical Psychology Review, 26(7), 817–833.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Caspi, A., Moffitt, T. E., Newman, D. L., & Silva, P. A. (1998). Behavioral observations at age 3 years predict adult psychiatric disorders: Longitudinal evidence from a birth cohort. In M. E. Hertzig & E. A. Farber (Eds.), Annual progress in child psychiatry and child development: 1997 (pp. 319–331). Philadelphia, PA: Brunner/Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cents, R. A. M., Tiemeier, H., Luijk, M. P. C. M., Jaddoe, V. W. V., Hofman, A., Verhulst, F. C., et al. (2011). Grandparental anxiety and depression predict young children’s internalizing and externalizing problems: The generation R study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 128(1–2), 95–105.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Costello, E. J., Mustillo, S., Erkanli, A., Keeler, G., & Angold, A. (2003). Prevalence and development of psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence. Archives of General Psychiatry, 60(8), 837–844.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dempsey, A. G., Llorens, A., Brewton, C., Mulchandani, S., & Goin-Kochel, R. P. (2012). Emotional and behavioral adjustment in typically developing siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(7), 1393–1402.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ebesutani, C., Bernstein, A., Nakamura, B. J., Chorpita, B. F., Higa-McMillan, C. K., & Weisz, J. R. (2010). Concurrent validity of the child behavior checklist DSM-oriented scales: Correspondence with DSM diagnoses and comparison to syndrome scales. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 32(3), 373–384.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elliot, C. D. (2007). Differential ability scales (2nd ed.). Minneapolis, MN: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fombonne, E. (1999). The epidemiology of autism: A review. Psychological Medicine, 29(4), 769–786.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Foundation, Simons. (2010). SFARI base/SSC researcher welcome packet. New York, NY: Simons Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, W., Mulvey, E. P., & Shaw, E. C. (1995). Regression analyses of counts and rates: Poisson, overdispersed Poisson, and negative binomial models. Psychological Bulletin, 118(3), 392–404.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gau, S. S., Chou, M., Lee, J., Wong, C., Chou, W., Chen, M., et al. (2010). Behavioral problems and parenting style among Taiwanese children with autism and their siblings. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 64(1), 70–78.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glasberg, B. A. (2000). The development of siblings’ understanding of autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30(2), 143–156.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gold, N. (1993). Depression and social adjustment in siblings of boys with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 23, 147–163.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gotham, K., Pickles, A., & Lord, C. (2009). Standardizing ADOS scores for a measure of severity in autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39(5), 693–705.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harrell, F. E. (2001). Regression modeling strategies. New York: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hastings, R. P. (2003). Behavioral adjustment of siblings of children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 33(2), 99–104.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hastings, R. P. (2007). Longitudinal relationships between sibling behavioral adjustment and behavior problems of children with developmental disabilities. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(8), 1485–1492.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, L. N. (1999). Family communication patterns and personality characteristics. Communication Quarterly, 47(2), 230–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hurley, R. S. E., Losh, M., Parlier, M., Reznick, J. S., & Piven, J. (2007). The broad autism phenotype questionnaire. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(9), 1679–1690.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, E. O., Chilcoat, H. D., & Breslau, N. (2000). Trouble sleeping and anxiety/depression in childhood. Psychiatry Research, 94(2), 93–102.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keiley, M. K., Bates, J. E., Dodge, K. A., & Pettit, G. S. (2000). A cross-domain growth analysis: Externalizing and internalizing behaviors during 8 years of childhood. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 28, 161–179.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, L., Keaten, J. A., Finch, C., Duarte, I. B., Hoffman, P., & Michels, M. M. (2002). Family communication and the development of reticence. Communication Edition, 51(2), 202–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, R. C., Berglund, P., Demler, O., Jin, R., Merikangas, K. R., & Walters, E. E. (2005). Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distribution of DSM-IV disorders in the national comorbidity survey replication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62, 593–602.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, R. C., & McLeod, J. D. (1984). Sex differences in vulnerability to undesirable life events. American Sociological Review, 49, 620–631.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, M. D., & Bearman, P. S. (2011). Socioeconomic status and the increased prevalence of autism in California. American Sociological Review, 76(2), 320–346.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • La Greca, A. M., & Lopez, N. (1998). Social anxiety among adolescents: Linkages with peer relations and friendships. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 26, 83–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lainhart, J. E. (1999). Psychiatric problems in individuals with autism, their parents and siblings. International Review of Psychiatry, 11(4), 278–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Landman-Peeters, K. M. C., Hartman, C. A., van der Pompe, G., den Boer, J. A., Minderaa, R. B., & Ormel, J. (2005). Gender differences in the relation between social support, problems in parent-offspring communication, and depression and anxiety. Social Science and Medicine, 60(11), 2549–2559.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Last, C. G., Perrin, A., Hersen, M., & Kazdin, A. E. (1992). DSM-III-R anxiety disorders in children: Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 31, 1070–1076.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Risi, S., DiLavore, P. S., Shulman, C., Thurm, A., & Pickles, A. (2006). Autism from 2 to 9 years of age. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63(6), 694–701.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Rutter, M., Goode, S., Heemsbergen, J., Jordan, H., Mawhood, L., et al. (1989). Autism diagnostic observation schedule: A standardized observation of communicative and social behavior. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 19, 185–212.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McClure, E. B., Brennan, P. A., Hammen, C., & Le Brocque, R. M. (2001). Parental anxiety disorders, child anxiety disorders, and the perceived parent–child relationship in an Australian high-risk sample. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 29(1), 1–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Merikangas, K. R. (2002). Familial factors and substance use disorder. In R. J. McMahon & R. D. Peters (Eds.), The effects of parental dysfunction on children (pp. 17–40). New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Micali, N., Chakrabarti, S., & Fombonne, E. (2004). The broad autism phenotype. Autism, 8(1), 21–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mullen, E. M. (1995). Mullen scales of early learning. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neece, C. L., Blacher, J., & Baker, B. L. (2010). Impact on siblings of children with intellectual disability: The role of child behavior problems. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 115(4), 291–306.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Orsmond, G. I., Kuo, H., & Seltzer, M. M. (2009). Siblings of individuals with an autism spectrum disorder: Sibling relationships and wellbeing in adolescence and adulthood. Autism, 13(1), 59–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Orsmond, G. I., & Seltzer, M. M. (2009). Adolescent siblings of individuals with an autism spectrum disorder: Testing a diathesis-stress model of sibling well-being. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39(7), 1053–1065.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parke, R. D. (2002). Fathers and families. In M. H. Bernstein (Ed.), Handbook of parenting: Being and becoming a parent (Vol. 3, pp. 27–74). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petalas, M. A., Hastings, R. P., Nash, S., Hall, L. M., Joannidi, H., & Dowey, A. (2012). Psychological adjustment and sibling relationships in siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders: Environmental stressors and the broad autism phenotype. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 6, 546–555.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pilowsky, T., Yirmiya, N., Doppelt, O., Gross-Tsur, V., & Shaley, R. S. (2004). Social and emotional adjustment of siblings of children with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45(4), 855–865.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Piven, J., Chase, G. A., Landa, R., Wzored, M., Gayle, J., Cloud, D., et al. (1991). Psychiatric disorders in the parents of autistic individuals. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 30(3), 471–478.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosbrook, A., & Whittingham, K. (2010). Autistic traits in the general population: What mediates the link with depressive and anxious symptomatology? Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 4(3), 415–424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roza, S. J., Hofstra, M. B., van der Ende, J., & Verhulst, F. C. (2003). Stable prediction of mood and anxiety disorders based on behavioral and emotional problems in childhood: A 14-year follow-up during childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 160(12), 2116–2121.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., LeCouteur, A., & Lord, C. (2003). The autism diagnostic interview-revised (ADI-R). Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smalley, S. L., McCracken, J., & Tanguay, P. (1995). Autism, affective disorders, and social phobia. American Journal of Medical Genetics (Neuropsychiatric Genetics), 60, 19–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snow, A. V., & Lecavalier, L. (2011). Comparing autism, PDD-NOS, and other developmental disabilities on parent-reported behavior problems: Little evidence for ASD subtype validity. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41, 302–310.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spratt, K. G., Nicholas, J. S., Brady, K. T., Crpenter, L. A., Hatcher, C. R., Meekinds, K. A., et al. (2012). Enhanced cortisol response to stress in children in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42, 75–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • The Psychological Corporation. (1999). Wechsler abbreviated scale of intelligence. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • United States Census Bureau. (2012). Household and families: 2010. 2010 census briefs no. 14. Retrieved on July 23, 2012 from http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-14.pdf.

  • United States Census Bureau. (2011). Household income for states: 2009 and 2010. American Community service briefs no. 10-0). Retrieved on July 23, 2012 from http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/acsbr10-02.pdf.

  • van Oort, F. V. A., Greaves-Lord, K., Verhulst, F. C., Ormel, J., & Huizink, A. C. (2009). The developmental course of anxiety symptoms during adolescence: The TRIALS study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 50(10), 1209–1217.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Verte, S., Roeyers, H., & Buysse, A. (2003). Behavioural problems, social competence, and self-concept in siblings of children with autism. Child: Care, Health, and Development, 29(3), 193–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Visu-Petra, L., Tincas, I., Cheie, L., & Benga, O. (2010). Anxiety and visual-spatial memory updating in young children: An investigation using emotional facial expressions. Cognition and Emotion, 24(2), 223–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitiello, B., & Waslick, B. (2010). Pharmacotherapy for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders. Psychiatric Annals, 40(4), 185–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wadsworth, M. E., Hudziak, J. J., Heath, A. C., & Achenbach, T. M. (2001). Latent class analysis of child behavior checklist anxiety/depression in children and adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 40(1), 106–114.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (2003). Wechsler intelligence scale for children. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wittchen, H. U., Nelson, C. B., & Lachner, G. (1998). Prevalence of mental disorders and psychosocial impairments in adolescents and young adults. Psychological Medicine, 28, 109–126.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yirmiya, N., Shaked, M., & Erel, O. (2001). Comparison of siblings of individuals with autism and siblings of individuals with other diagnoses: An empirical summary. In E. Schopler, N. Yirmiya, C. Schulman, & L. M. Marcus (Eds.), The research basics for autism intervention (pp. 59–73). New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

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.

Author information

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

Authors
  1. Carolyn M. Shivers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lauren K. Deisenroth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Julie Lounds Taylor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julie Lounds Taylor.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

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

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1685-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation