Abstract
Typically developing siblings (TDS) of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often have high caregiving responsibilities for parents (parent-focused parentification; PFP) or siblings (sibling-focused parentification; SFP). Prior research demonstrates that PFP is associated with TDS’ adjustment risk whereas SFP is associated with positive sibling relationships and social support moderates these associations. The purpose of the present study (N = 108) was to extended prior work by examining self-disclosure of worries about siblings with ASD to parents as a moderator between both parentification roles and TDS’ relational and adjustment outcomes. TDS college students ages 18 to 24 (M = 20.37, SD = 1.55) completed online surveys assessing parentification, disclosure, negative sibling interactions, depressive symptoms, well-being, and self-esteem. High disclosure to parents was protective against risk to well-being at high levels of PFP, which suggests a family pattern in which TDS’ caregiving is reciprocated by parents to underscore the importance of parents as a critical source of social support for TDS during the transition to adulthood. The impact of disclosure was more nuanced in the context of sibling-focused parentification; high disclosure to parents was associated with risk to sibling relationships at high levels of SFP and enhanced well-being at low levels of SFP, suggesting that the benefit of self-disclosure is not maintained when TDS’ responsibilities for siblings are too great.
Highlights
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Disclosing worries about their siblings with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to parents is a critical support process for typically developing siblings (TDS)
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TDS may experience both positive and negative effects of caregiving roles
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When providing care to parents support reciprocity is important for TDS’ well-being
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Turning to parents may not be as useful for coping with sibling caregiving roles
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Author Contributions
M.M. developed the hypotheses, assisted with the statistical analysis and preparation of the paper; J.H.B. assisted with the statistical analysis and the preparation of the paper; A.K.N. conceived of the study and its design and coordination and oversaw the development of the hypotheses, the execution of statistical analysis, and the preparation of the paper.
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This project was funded, in part, by a grant from the Dr. Gwen Andrew Faculty Initiatives Fund awarded to A.K.N by the College of Social Science at Michigan State University. The first author was funded, in part, by a College of Natural Science Undergraduate Research Support Scholarship.
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Murrin, M., Beffel, J.H. & Nuttall, A.K. The Moderating Role of Self-Disclosure Among Typically Developing Siblings of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Child Fam Stud 30, 364–374 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-020-01846-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-020-01846-7