Sibling Relationships, Personality Traits, Emotional, and Behavioral Difficulties in Autism Spectrum Disorders

C Longobardi,L E Prino,F G M Gastaldi,T Jungert

doi:10.1155/2019/9576484

C Longobardi, L E Prino + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/9576484

Copy DOI

Abstract

This study focused on parents’ perceptions of the quality of sibling relationship and its association with some behavioral and emotional characteristics of the typically developing sibling. The participants were parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and typically developing siblings. The sample size was 43. The group comprised 14 fathers (32.6%) and 29 mothers (67.4%) aged 33–53 years (M=43.56; SD = 5.23). The parents completed measures of siblings’ emotional and behavioral difficulties, siblings’ personality, and sibling relationships and their impact on families and siblings. The results showed that behavioral difficulties such as emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, and peer relationship problems were significantly associated with negative sibling relationships—characterized by rivalry, aggression, avoidance, and teaching behavior toward the brother or sister with an autism spectrum disorder. The implications are that sibling-focused interventions should focus on improving negative sibling relationships to reduce the impact on the difficulties of the typical development of the sibling of both genders and shape the content and delivery framework accordingly. This can be done by providing skills and approaches for enhancing sibling relationships so both parties benefit.

Highlights

For many decades, research on the e ects children with disabilities have on families has focused on parents—mothers in particular— the relationship with siblings is one of the most enduring aspects of an individual’s life and can a ect adaptation and well-being throughout the entire period of development
Several studies have highlighted a series of risks for typically developing (TD) siblings—such as solitude and annoyance at the other sibling’s behavior [7, 8], internalization and externalization of problems [9, 10], attention de cits [11], reduced sibling interaction [12], and peer relationship problems [13, 14]
This study focuses on parents’ perceptions of the quality of the siblings’ relationships and their associations with some of the behavioral, emotional, and personality characteristics of the TD siblings. is study is grounded in the family systems model which includes the following four components: social support and resources, family strengths, capacity-building and help-giving practices, and family needs

Summary

Introduction

Research on the e ects children with disabilities have on families has focused on parents—mothers in particular— the relationship with siblings is one of the most enduring aspects of an individual’s life and can a ect adaptation and well-being throughout the entire period of development. A positive relationship with one’s siblings— marked by warmth, a ection, and emotional and practical support—is correlated with psychological well-being, while a negative relationship correlates with negative psychological adaptation [1]. It was during the 1980s that research nally focused on siblings, analyzing the e ects of the presence of a child with a disability on the other siblings in-depth [2, 3, 4]. Research analyzing the e ects of the presence of a child with a disability on the other siblings in the family has produced contradictory results. Several studies have highlighted a series of risks for typically developing (TD) siblings—such as solitude and annoyance at the other sibling’s behavior [7, 8], internalization and externalization of problems [9, 10], attention de cits [11], reduced sibling interaction [12], and peer relationship problems [13, 14]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion