Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Psychological Adjustment, Social Responsiveness and Parental Distress in an Italian Sample of Siblings of Children with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Child and Family Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

The psychosocial adjustment of siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a relatively recent field of study, but results in literature are often inconsistent, and studies specifically focused on samples of siblings of children with high-functioning ASD are very few. This paper analyzes the level of social impairment (index of broader autism phenotype), the risk of internalizing and externalizing problems (index of psychological adjustment) and the parenting distress in an Italian sample of siblings of children with high-functioning ASD (n = 26). The presence of risk factors (birth order, sex and number of siblings in the family) and the role of the siblings’ age are also explored. The data were collected through self-report instruments administered to parents. The results do not show higher average risk levels for psychosocial adjustment problems, even though a minority of the cases is at risk for social impairments (7.7 %), internalizing (23.1 %), externalizing (3.8 %) and total difficulties (11.5 %) and for distress in the parent–child system (15 %). Distress in the parent-sibling system seems to be modulated by the sibling’s features and to be higher when the sibling is older than the child with ASD. Additionally, a link between difficulties in psychological adjustment and broader autism phenotype is suggested.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abidin, R. R. (1995). Parenting Stress Index (3rd ed.). Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources (Italian Eds. A. Guarino, P. Di Blasio, M. D’Alessio, E. Camisasca & G. Serantoni, Giunti O.S. Organizzazioni Speciali, Firenze, 2008).

  • Achenbach, T. M., & Rescorla, L. A. (2000). Manual for the ASEBA preschool forms and profiles. Burlington: Research Center for Children, Youth, & Families, University of Vermont.

    Google Scholar 

  • Achenbach, T. M., & Rescorla, L. A. (2001). Manual for the ASEBA school-age forms and profiles. Burlington: Research Center for Children, Youth, & Families, University of Vermont.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauminger, N., & Yirmiya, N. (2001). The functioning and wellbeing of siblings of children with autism: Behavioral-genetic and familial contributions. In J. A. Burack, T. Charman, N. Yirmiya, & P. R. Zelazo (Eds.), The development of autism: Perspectives from theory and research (pp. 61–80). London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Constantino, J. N., & Gruber, C. P. (2005). Social Responsiveness Scale. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services. (Italian Eds. A. Zuddas, A. Di Martino, L. Delitala, L. Anchisi & G. Melis. Giunti O.S. Organizzazioni Speciali, Firenze, 2010).

  • Constantino, J. N., Lajonchere, C., Lutz, M., Gray, T., Abbacchi, A., McKenna, K., et al. (2006). Autistic social impairment in the siblings of children with pervasive developmental disorders. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 294–296.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Constantino, J. N., Przybeck, T., Friesen, D., & Todd, R. D. (2000). Reciprocal social behavior in children with and without pervasive developmental disorders. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 21, 2–11.

    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, 1393–1402.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Di Pasquale, D., Olivari, B., Saccani, M., & Lenti, C. (2011). Compromissione sociale in fratelli di bambini affetti da disturbi pervasivi dello sviluppo. [Social impairment in siblings of children with pervasive developmental disorders]. Giornale di Neuropsichiatria dell’età evolutiva, 31, 225–231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ercolani, A., Areni, A., & Leone, L. (2008). Elementi di statistica per la psicologia [Elements of statistics for psychology]. Bologna: Il mulino.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrari, M. (1984). Chronic illness: Psichosocial effects on siblings—I. Chronically ill boys. Journal of Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry, 25, 459–476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frigerio, A., Cattaneo, C., Cataldo, M. G., Schiatti, A., Molteni, M., & Battaglia, M. (2004). Behavioral and emotional problems among italian children and adolescents aged 4 to 18 years as reported by parents and teachers. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 20, 124–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frigerio, A., Cozzi, P., Pastore, V., Molteni, M., Borgatti, R., & Montirosso, R. (2006). La valutazione dei problemi emotivo comportamentali in un campione italiano di bambini in età prescolare attraverso la Child Behavior Checklist e il Caregiver Teacher Report Form. [The assessment of emotional-behavioral problems in an Italian sample of preschool age children with Child Behavior Checklist and Caregiver Teacher Report Form]. Infanzia e adolescenza, 5, 24–37.

    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 

  • Hollingshead, A. B. (1975). A four-factor index of social status. Unpublished manuscript. Yale University, New Haven, CT.

  • Ingram, R. E., & Luxton, D. D. (2005). Vulnerability-stress models. In B. L. Hankin & J. R. Z. Abela (Eds.), Development of psychopathology: A vulnerability-stress perspective (pp. 32–46). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ivanova, M. Y., Dobrean, A., Dopfner, M., Erol, N., Fombonne, E., Fonseca, A., et al. (2007). Testing the 8-syndrome structure of the Child Behavior Checklist in 30 societies. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 36, 405–417.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaminsky, L., & Dewey, D. (2002). Psychosocial adjustment in siblings of children with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 43, 225–232.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Macks, R. J., & Reeve, R. (2007). The adjustment of non-disabled siblings of children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37, 1060–1067.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mates, T. E. (1990). Siblings of autistic children: Their adjustment and performance at home and school. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 20, 545–553.

    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, 1053–1065.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rao, P. A., & Beidel, D. C. (2009). The impact of children with high-functioning autism on parental stress, sibling adjustment, and family functioning. Behavior Modification, 33, 437–451.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rende, R., & Plomin, R. (1992). Diathesis-stress models of psychopathology: A quantitative genetic perspective. Applied and Preventive Psychology, 1, 177–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rescorla, L., Achenbach, T., Ivanova, M. Y., Dumenci, L., Almqvist, F., Bilenberg, N., et al. (2007). Behavioral and emotional problems reported by parents of children ages 6 to 16 in 31 societies. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 15, 130–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rescorla, L. A., Achenbach, T. M., Ivanova, M. Y., Harder, V. S., Otten, L., Bilenberg, N., et al. (2011). International comparisons of behavioral and emotional problems in preschool children: Parents’ reports from 24 societies. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 40, 456–467.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigue, J. R., Geffken, G. R., & Morgan, S. B. (1993). Perceived competence and behavioral adjustment of siblings of children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 23, 665–674.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shivers, C. M., Deisenroth, L. K., & Lounds Taylor, J. (2013). Patterns and predictors of anxiety among siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43, 1136–1346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tomeny, T. S., Barry, T. D., & Bader, S. H. (2012). Are typically-developing siblings of children with an autism spectrum disorder at risk for behavioral, emotional, and social maladjustment? Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 6, 508–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verté, 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, 193–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M. (1999). Vulnerability to psychopathology: A biosocial model. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ASL RMH2/3, TSMREE ASL RMH2/3, Albano Laziale, Rome, Italy

    Stefania Di Biasi

  2. “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via dei Sabelli, 108, 00185, Rome, Italy

    Barbara Trimarco, Sergio Melogno & Gabriel Levi

  3. “Niccolò Cusano” University, Via Don Carlo Gnocchi, 3, Rome, Italy

    Caterina D’Ardia

  4. ASL RME, UOC Patologie Emergenti - Emerging Diseases, ASL RME - Via Catone, 30, Rome, Italy

    Giovanni Meledandri

Authors
  1. Stefania Di Biasi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Barbara Trimarco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Caterina D’Ardia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sergio Melogno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Giovanni Meledandri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Gabriel Levi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Barbara Trimarco.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Di Biasi, S., Trimarco, B., D’Ardia, C. et al. Psychological Adjustment, Social Responsiveness and Parental Distress in an Italian Sample of Siblings of Children with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Child Fam Stud 25, 883–890 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-015-0256-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-015-0256-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation