Investigating the Time Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders Spend with Their Typically Developing Siblings

Mehmet Yavuz,Pınar Şafak

doi:10.13189/ujer.2019.070818

Mehmet Yavuz, Pınar Şafak

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2019.070818

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Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the time spent by the individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with their siblings and to offer suggestions from the perspective of typically developing siblings so as to find how this might be improved. The study was carried out with the siblings presenting typical development of the individuals with ASD who were attending special education and rehabilitation centers in Istanbul. Ninety-three siblings with typical development participated in the study. The extended version of the questionnaire developed by Yavuz and Coşkun (2014) was used as the data collection tool of the study and the content analysis of the collected data was done. According to the results of the study, it was observed that the siblings play games, do other activities like leisure time activities outside the house with their siblings with ASD. The problems that arise when they spend time with their siblings with ASD outside their house are: communication problems, negative attitude of people, and other problems like behavior problems.

Highlights

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neuro-developmental disorder that manifests itself in the early years of life, which affects the participation of the individual in daily life and which has limited and repetitive attention, behavior, activities and social interaction / communication deficiencies (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders -5 [DSM-5], 2013)
According to Verte, Roeyers and Buysse (2003), siblings have an important role in the development and education of the child as well as all the other family members
One of the main problems that the siblings experience while spending time in and outside is the behavior problems of their siblings with ASD, which is their chief reason for not wanting to spend any time with their siblings

Summary

Introduction

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neuro-developmental disorder that manifests itself in the early years of life, which affects the participation of the individual in daily life and which has limited and repetitive attention, behavior, activities and social interaction / communication deficiencies (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders -5 [DSM-5], 2013). Individuals with ASD experience developmental difficulties in general They can exhibit social, communication problems and problem behaviors (Gray and Holden, 1992; Rao and Beidel, 2009). Families having a member with ASD can even quit going on a holiday, let alone think of going to anywhere (Montes and Halterman, 2008) All of these situations can significantly affect family members and function of the family (Gray and Holden, 1992; Rao and Beidel, 2009). All these conditions that affect the family naturally affect the siblings and the relationships among them (Roeyers and Mycke, 1995; Sanders and Morgan, 1997; Senel and Akkok, 1996)

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