The study examined relationships between perceived social support and emotional/behavioral adjustment in 113 typically developing (TD) siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder. Parents and TD siblings completed questionnaires measuring social support, maladjustment, and demographics. Results showed that overall, greater perceived social support in TD siblings was correlated with less maladjustment. Younger TD brothers and older TD sisters showed the strongest negative correlations between social support and maladjustment, suggesting social support may be particularly important for their adjustment.

1. Autism and Typically-Developing Siblings: Relations with Social Support
Jessica Fulwider & Dr. Theodore S. Tomeny
Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama
Introduction and Objective
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological disorder defined by
social communication and behavioral deficits (Lord, Cook, Leventhal &
Amaral, 2000). Broadly defined, social support often results in individuals
feeling that they are cared for and loved, held in high regard, and that
others are available to help them in times of need (Cobb, 1976). Social
support can range from emotional to physical support and children can
report receiving this support from family members, teachers, friends, and
others in their communities.
Interactions in families often impact children’s cognitive states (Kim,
McHale, Crouter & Osgood, 2007) and typically developing (TD) siblings of
children with ASD adapt to resources that influence adjustment and
enhancement. Although every sibling relationship has its moments of
weakness and strength, it has been suggested that the symptoms of
autism likely do not lend help to foster the healthiest relationships
(Hansford, 2013). TD siblings may experience maladjustment, such as
depression, anxiety, or anger, possibly from the feeling of social support
being absent. Yet, previous studies suggest that outcomes for TD siblings
are mixed (Orsmond & Seltzer, 2009), and this study sought to examine
the ways in which perceived social support relate to TD sibling
maladjustment.
Participants
113 parents of children with ASD and 113 TD siblings participated:
• Children with ASD ranged in age from 3 to 17 (M = 11.98, SD = 3.29)
• 78% Male, 87% Caucasian; reported diagnosis: 56% with Autism, 20%
with Aspergers D/O, and 24% with PDD-NOS
• TD siblings ranged in age from 11 to 17 (M = 13.32, SD = 1.81)
• 50% male
• Parents ranged in age from 31 to 60 (M = 44.13, SD = 5.25)
• 98% female, 77% married, 65% have at least a college degree, 41%
reported household incomes of $100,000 or more
Conclusion
Siblings share unique bonds and could play key roles in the development
of children with ASD. In this study, it was found that TD siblings’ perceived
social support was negatively correlated with their emotional and
behavioral maladjustment across the whole sample. Interestingly, this
negative relation between social support and maladjustment was strongest
for younger (ages 11-13) TD brothers and older (ages 14-17) TD sisters.
Social support can play a role in preventing negative outcomes in TD
siblings, and these results indicate that social support may be particularly
helpful for TD brothers during childhood and early adolescence and for TD
sisters during late adolescence. Generally, these results are helpful for
mental health care providers attempting to identify treatment targets for TD
siblings of differing ages and genders.
Select References
• Lord, C., Cook, E., Leventahal, B., & Amaral, D. (2000). Autism Spectrum Disorders. 28(2), 355-363.
• Cobb, S. (1976). Social Support as a Moderator of Life Stress. Psychomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral
Medicine 38(5), 300-314.
• Kim, J., McHale, S. M., Crouter, A. C., & Osgood, D. W. (2007). Longitudinal linkages between sibling relationships
and adjustment from middle childhood through adolescence. Developmental Psychology, 43(4), 960-973. doi:
10.1037/0012-1649.43.4.960
• Hansford, A. P. (2014). A targeted intervention for siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders: The effects of a
sibling support group. Dissertation Abstracts International, 75,
Measures and Procedure
Following consent, participants completed online questionnaires
Parents completed the following:
• Demographic and Diagnostic Form
• Requested information about family members and ASD diagnoses
TD siblings completed the following:
• Self-Report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire
(SDQ)
• 30-item broadband measure of child behavioral and emotional functioning
completed about oneself; serves as measure of TD sibling maladjustment
• Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale
• 60-item measure of perceived social support from parents, teachers,
classmates, close friends, and people in the child’s school; serves as a
measure of social support.
Statistical Analyses and Results
• Bivariate correlation analyses examined the relations
between social support and maladjustment in TD brothers
and sisters at differing ages.
• Prior to analysis, TD siblings were dichotomized
according to age (ages 11-13; ages 14-17)
• For the whole sample, general social support was
negatively correlated with overall TD sibling maladjustment
(r = -.55, p < .001).
• This trend remained when examining brothers and sisters
separately (r = -.57, p < .001; r = -.53, p < .001,
respectively).
• However, for brothers, the relation between maladjustment
and social support was stronger for younger brothers (r =
-.68, p < .001) than older brothers (r = .34, p = .11).
• For sisters, the opposite was found: r = -.40, p = .02 for
younger sisters; r = -.61, p = .002 for older sisters.
AA/EOE/ADAI
Note. Soc. Supp. = Social Support. r-values presented for each bivariate correlation. * p < .05. ** p < .01. *** p < .001.
Table 1. Bivariate Correlations between TD Sibling Maladjustment and Overall Social Support and Social Support Subtypes