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

Kaynakça

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