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.