Are typically-developing siblings of children with an autism spectrum disorder at risk for behavioral, emotional, and social maladjustment?

The psychophysiological impact of childhood autism spectrum disorder on siblings

“…These findings also resonate with those from a recent meta analysis, in which siblings of children with DD, including ASD, reported higher levels of depressive symptoms compared to a control group (Vermaes et al, 2012). That some studies have observed no effect (Benson & Karlof, 2008, Di Biasi et al, in press;Tomeny et al, 2012) or an adaptive effect (Macks & Reeve, 2007) of childhood disability on siblings' psychological functioning might be explained by methodological variations. That is, many previous studies used parent reports to measure siblings' psychological adjustment to having a brother/sister with a DD.…”

“…Findings from a review paper (Barlow & Ellard, 2006) and recent meta analysis (Vermaes, van Susante, & van Bakel, 2012) also suggested that siblings of children with a DD might be at greater risk for psychological adjustment difficulties, with internalising behaviours and depressive symptoms found to be higher when compared with a control group. However, not all findings have been consistent, such that several studies observed no effect (Benson & Karlof, 2008;Di Biasi et al, in press;Tomeny, Barry, & Bader, 2012), or an adaptive effect (Macks & Reeve, 2007), of childhood disability on siblings' psychological functioning. These inconsistent findings highlight the need for additional research in this area.…”

The Role of the Broader Autism Phenotype and Environmental Stressors in the Adjustment of Siblings of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Taiwan and the United Kingdom

“…In contrast, some research has found that typically developing sibling of children with autism (TD sibling) displayed better social competence or positive self-concept (Verte et al 2003; Macks and Reeve 2007; Kaminsky and Dewey 2002) and others have found no difference in comparison to siblings of TD children or normative data (Tomeny et al 2012; Quintero and McIntyre 2010; Rodgers et al 2016; Dempsey et al 2012). …”

Factors that May Affect the Health of Siblings of Children Who Have an Intellectual/Developmental Disability

“…There are reports of negative impacts of having a disabled sibling (Gath, ; Gath & Gumley, ; Griffith, Hastings, & Petalas, ; Mazaheri et al, ; San Martino & Newman, ). There are also reports of positive effects (Macks & Reeve, ); reports of a mixture of positive and negative impacts (Barak‐Levy, Goldstein, & Weinstock, ; Dauz Williams et al, ; Giallo, Gavidia‐Payne, Minett, & Kapoor, ; Graff et al, ; Kao, Plante, & Lobato, ; Moyson & Roeyers, ); and reports of no significant impacts (Cuskelly & Gunn, ; Dempsey, Llorens, Brewton, Mulchandani, & Goin‐Kochel, ; Dyson, ; Hastings, ; Rossiter & Sharpe, ; Tomeny, Barry, & Bader, ).…”