Competence of Neurotypical Siblings of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

In present study, the school, social and activities competencies of neurotypical siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD-NTDsibs) were examined. A total of 146 children, including 66 ASD-NTDsibs and 80 children both themselves and their siblings are neurotypical (NTC-NTDsibs), participated in the study, which was designed in the correlational survey model. The data were collected via mothers using part 1 of CBCL / 6-18, which measures competence. In the analysis of the data, competence levels of ASD-NTDsibs were evaluated as normal/ borderline/clinical according to the norms of the scale using the raw scores obtained from the scale and the T scores obtained by using the profiles, and the competence levels were examined according to demographic variables and compared with the competence levels of NTC-NTDsibs. According to the research results, significant differences favour the comparison group regarding school, social and activities sub-fields and total competence levels between the study and comparison groups. ASD-NTDsibs demonstrated a normal level of competence in the school and social sub-fields, clinical level of competence in sub-field activities, and total competence. There was no significant difference between competence of ASD-NTDsibs and demographic variables, except that the sisters showed a high school performance level. Research findings were discussed within the framework of parents' ability to provide limited resources to their neurotypical children, broader autism phenotype (BAP) characteristics and demographic variables. As a result of the research, it can be said that ASD-NTDsibs have low competence and should be supported in school, social and activities fields.

Keywords

• autism spectrum disorder,
• school performance,
• neurotypical sibling

References

1. Achenbach, T. M. (1979). The child behavior profile: An empirically based system for assessing children's behavioral problems and competencies. International Journal of Mental Health, 7(3/4), 24-42. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207411.1978.11448806
2. Achenbach, T. M., & Ruffle, T. M. (2000). The Child Behavior Checklist and related forms for assessing behavioral/emotional problems and competencies. Pediatrics in Review, 21(8), 265–271. https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.21-8-265
3. American Psychological Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders-DSM-5. American Psychiatric Publishing.
4. Angell, M. E., Meadan, H., & Stoner, J.B. (2012). Experiences of siblings of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Autism Research and Treatment. Article ID 949586. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/949586
5. Barak-Levy, Y., Goldstein, E., & Weınstock, M. (2010). Adjustment characteristics of healthy siblings of children with autism. Journal of Family Studies, 16(2), 155–164. https://doi.org/10.5172/jfs.16.2.155
6. Ben-Itzchak, E., Nachshon, N., & Zachor, D. A. (2019). Having siblings is associated with better social functioning in autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 47(5), 921–931. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-018-0473-z
7. Benderix, Y., & Sivberg, B. (2007). Siblings’ experiences of having a brother or sister with autism and mental retardation: A case study of 14 siblings from five families. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 22(5), 410-418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2007.08.013
8. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1977). Toward an experimental ecology of human development. American Psychologist, 32(7), 513–531. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.32.7.513

9. Celiberti, D. A., & Harris, S. L. (1993). Behavioral interventions for siblings of children with autism: A focus on skills to enhance play. Behavior Therapy, 2(4), 573-599. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(05)80319-3
10. Cuzzocrea, F., Larcan, R., Costa, S., & Gazzano, C. (2014). Parents’ competence and social skills in siblings of disabled children. Social Behavior and Personality, 42(1), 45-58. http://dx.doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2014.42.1.45
11. Creswell, W. J. (2014). Educational research: planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Pearson. Constantino, J. N., Lajonchere, C., Lutz, M., Gray, T., Abbacchi, A., McKenna, K., Singh, D., & Todd, R. D. (2006). Autistic social impairment in the siblings of children with pervasive developmental disorders. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(2), 294–296. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.163.2.294
12. 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 Disorder, 42(7), 1393-1402. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1368-9
13. Diener, M.L., Anderson, L., Wright, C.A., & Dunn, M. L. (2015). Sibling relationships of children with autism spectrum disorder in the context of everyday life and a strength-based program. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24(4), 1060–1072. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-014-9915-6
14. Dyson, L. L. (1999). The psychosocial functioning of school-age children who have siblings with developmental disabilities: Change and stability over time. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology 20(2), 253–271. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0193-3973(99)00016-7
15. Dyson, L. L. (2003). Children with learning disabilities within the family context: A comparison with siblings in global self-concept, academic self-perception and social competence. Learning Disabilities Research, 18(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-5826.00053
16. Erol, N., & Şimşek, Z. (2010). Okul çağı çocuk ve ergenler için davranış değerlendirme ölçekleri el kitabı. Metis.
17. Fan, X., & Chen, M. (2001). Parental involvement and students’ academic achievement: A meta- analysis. Educational Psychology Review, 13(1), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009048817385
18. Giallo, R., Gavidia Payne, S., & Minett Kapoor, A. (2011). Sibling voices: The self-reported mental health of siblings of children with a disability. Clinical Psychologist, 16(1), 36–43. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1742-9552.2011.00035.x
19. Giallo, R., & Gavidia-Payne, S. (2006). Child, parent and family factors as predictors of adjustment for siblings of children with a disability. Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 50(2), 937–948. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2006.00928.x
20. Gold N. (1993). Depression and social adjustment in siblings of boys with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 23(1), 147–163. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01066424
21. Green L. (2013). The well-being of siblings of individuals with autism. ISRN Neurology, Article ID 417194. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/417194
22. Gregory, A., Hastings, R. P, & Kovshoff, H. (2020). Academic self-concept and sense of school belonging of adolescent siblings of autistic children. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 96, 103519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2019.103519
23. Haager, D., & Vaughn, S. (1995). Parent, teacher, peers and self-reports ofthe social competence of students with learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 28(4), 205–231. https://doi.org/10.1177/002221949502800403
24. Hastings R. P. (2003). Brief report: Behavioral adjustment of siblings of children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 33(1), 99–104. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1022290723442
25. Herman, E. L. (2013). Growing up with autism: The educational impact on neurotypical siblings. [Doctoral dissertation, Rutgers University]. Rutgers University Repository. https://rucore.libraries.rutgers.edu/rutgers-lib/41432/PDF/1/play/
26. Hodapp, R. M., Glidden, L. M., & Kaiser, A. P. (2005). Siblings of persons with disabilities: toward a research agenda. Mental Retardation, 43(5), 334–338. https://doi.org/10.1352/0047-6765(2005)43[334:SSOSEB]2.0.CO;2
27. Huinker, H.(2012). The experiences of individuals with a sibling diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. [Master's thesis, Catherine University]. Sophia, the St. Catherine University Repository. https://sophia.stkate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1040&context=msw_papers
28. Kaminsky, L., & Dewey, D. (2002). Psychosocial adjustment in siblings of children with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 43(2), 225–232. https://doi.org/10.1111/1469-7610.00015
29. Karasar, N. (1995). Bilimsel araştırma yöntemleri. Alkım.
30. Landry, O. & Chouinard, P. A. (2016). Why we should study the broader autism phenotype in typically developing populations. Journal of Cognition and Development, 17(4), 584-595. https://doi.org/10.1080/15248372.2016.1200046
31. Losh, M., Childress, D., Lam, K., & Piven, J. (2008). Defining key features of the broad autism phenotype: A comparison across parents of multiple and single-incidence autism families. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics, 147B(4), 424–433. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.b.30612
32. Lefkowitz, E. G., Crawford, S. G., & Dewey, D. (2007). Living with impairment: Behavioral, emotional and social adjustment of siblings of children with autism. International Journal of Disability, Community & Rehabilitation, 6(1). http://www.ijdcr.ca/VOL06_01_CAN/articles/dewey.shtm
33. Mascha, K., & Boucher, J. (2006). Preliminary investigation of aqualitative method of examining siblings’ experiences of living with a child with ASD. British Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 52(1), 19–28. https://doi.org/10.1179/096979506799103659
34. Macks, R.J., & Reeve, R.E. (2007). The adjustment of non-disabled siblings of children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(6), 1060–1067. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0249-0
35. Mates, T. E. (1990). Siblings of autistic children: their adjustment and performance at home and in school. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 20(4), 545-553. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02216059
36. McHale, S.M., Sloan, J., & Simeonsson, R.J. (1986). Sibling relationships or children with autistic, mentally retarded, and nonhandicapped brothers and sisters. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 16(4), 399–413 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531707
37. McHale, S. M., & Harris, V.S. (1992). Children’s experiences with disabled and nondisabled siblings: Links with personal adjustment and relationship evaluations. In F. Boer & J. Dunn (Eds.), Children sibling relationships:Developmental and clinical issues (pp. 83-100). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum Associates.
38. Meyer , K. A., Ingersoll, B., & Hambrick, D.Z. (2011). Factors influencing adjustment in siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders ,4(5), 1413–1420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2011.01.027Get
39. Morgan, S. B. (1988). The autistic child and family functioning: A developmental family-systems perspective. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 18(2), 263–280. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02211952
40. Orsmond G. I, & Seltzer M. M. (2007). Siblings of individuals with autism or Down syndrome: Effects on adult lives. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 51(9), 682–69. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2007.00954.x
41. Orozco, T. (2014). Impact of birth order on autism spectrum disorder children’s typically-developing siblings. [Master's thesis, California State University - San Bernardino]. California State University - San Bernardino Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/116
42. 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(1), 546–555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2011.07.015
43. Petalas, M. A., Hastings, R. P., Nash, S., Downey, A., & Reilly, D. (2009). ‘‘I like that he always shows who he is’’: The perceptions and experiences of siblings with a brother with autism spectrum disorder. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 56(4), 381-399. https://doi.org/10.1080/10349120903306715
44. Pilowsky, T., Yirmiya, N., Doppelt, O., Gross-Tsur, V., & Shalev, R. S. (2004). Social and emotional adjustment of siblings of children with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 45(4), 855–865. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.00277.x
45. Piven, J., Palmer, P., Jacobi, D., Childress, D., & Arndt, S. (1997). Broader autism phenotype: Evidence from a family history study of multiple-incidence autism families. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 154(2), 185–190. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.154.2.185
46. 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(4), 665-674. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01046108
47. Rogers M. & Hogan D. (2003) Family life with children with disabilities: the key role of rehabilitation. Journal of Marriage and Family, 65(4), 818-833. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2003.00818.x
48. Ross, P., & Cuskelly, M. (2006). Adjustment, sibling problems and coping strategies of brothers and sisters of children with autistic spectrum disorder. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 31(2), 77–86. https://doi.org/10.1080/13668250600710864
49. Shivers, C. M., Jackson, J. B., & McGregor, C. M. (2019). Functioning among typically developing siblings of individuals with autism spectrum disorder: A Meta-Analysis. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 22(2), 172–196. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-018-0269-2
50. Surfas, A. (2005). Social and academic deficiencies in siblings of children with autism. [Doctoral dissertation, Unıversıty Of California Rıverside]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. (UMI No. 3204030). https://search.proquest.com/docview/305001498/fulltextPDF/EB3F4F2C3E524911PQ/1?accountid=191742
51. Stampoltzis, A., Defingou, G., Antonopoulou, K., Kouvava, S., & Polychronopoulou, S. (2014) Psycho-social characteristics of children and adolescents with siblings on the autistic spectrum. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 29(4), 474-490. https://doi.org/10.1080/08856257.2014.922811
52. Şengül Erdem, H., & Fazlıoğlu, Y. (2020a). Otizm spektrum bozukluğu olan çocukların tipik gelişen kardeşlerinin davranışsal, sosyal ve duygusal özellikleri. Kastamonu Eğitim Dergisi, 28(4) , 1776-1788 . https://doi.org/10.24106/kefdergi.4105
53. Şengül Erdem, H., & Fazlıoğlu, Y . (2020b). Otizm spektrum bozukluğu olan çocukların kardeşlerinin psiko-sosyal özelliklerinin projektif testlerle değerlendirilmesi. Ankara Üniversitesi Eğitim Bilimleri Fakültesi Özel Eğitim Dergisi, 21(3), 537-559. https://doi.org/10.21565/ozelegitimdergisi.601445
54. Tomenty, T. S., Barry, T. D., & Bader, S. H. (2012). Are typically developing siblings of children with an autism spectrum disorders at risk for behavioral, emotional, and social maladjustment? Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 6(1), 508-518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2011.07.012.
55. Tsao, L., & Odom, S. L. (2006). Sibling-mediated social interaction intervention for young children with autism. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 26(2), 106-123. https://doi.org/10.1177/02711214060260020101
56. Tsao, L., Davenport, R., & Schmiege, C. (2011). Supporting siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders. Early Childhood Education Journal, 40(1), 47–54. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-011-0488-3
57. Verte, S., Roeyers, H., & Buysse,A. (2003). Behavioural problems, social competence and self-concept in siblings of children with autism. Child: Care, Healt&Development, 29(3), 193-205. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2214.2003.00331.x
58. Vaughn, S., & Hogan A. (1994). The social competence of students with learning disabilities over time: A within-individual examination. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 27(5), 292-303. https://doi.org/10.1177/002221949402700505
59. Quintero, N., & McIntyre, L. L. (2010). Sibling adjustment and maternal well-being: An examination of families with and without a child with an autism spectrum disorder. Focus On Autism And Other Developmental Disabilities, 25(1), 37–46. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088357609350367