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Siblings Relationships of Children with Autism

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Abstract

This study investigated sibling relationships of children with autism compared to children with Down syndrome and siblings of normally developing children. Ninety siblings (30 per group) between the ages of 8 and 18 participated in this study. Results indicated that sibling relationships in families of children with autism were characterized by less intimacy, prosocial behavior, and nurturance than those of the two comparison groups. Both siblings of children with autism and siblings of children with Down syndrome reported greater admiration of their sibling and less quarreling and competition in their relationships relative to normally developing comparison children.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    Laura Kaminsky

  2. Departments of Psychology and Paediatrics, University of Calgary and Behavioural Research Unit, Alberta Children's Hospital, Alberta, Canada

    Deborah Dewey

Authors
  1. Laura Kaminsky
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  2. Deborah Dewey
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Kaminsky, L., Dewey, D. Siblings Relationships of Children with Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 31, 399–410 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010664603039

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010664603039

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