Siblings of Individuals With Disabilities: Reframing the Literature Through a Bioecological Lens

Abstract

In the United States alone, there are almost 300,000 individuals with developmental disabilities. Researchers have focused primarily on such individuals and their parents; however, the developmental outcomes of such individuals' siblings have been understudied. Research on siblings frequently is atheoretical, which makes it difficult to organize findings in ways that enhance understanding of the multiple influences on sibling development and to predict and promote siblings' outcomes. Application of a theoretical framework is crucial, as it has implications for supports available to siblings and families, as well as for research, programs, and policy. Here, a bioecological framework is used to organize existing research about siblings of individuals with disabilities and the factors that help or hinder their development and to highlight areas needing further study.

Correlates of current caregiving among siblings of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities

“…Fourth, this study identified mesosystem correlates of current sibling caregiving. Previous research had not examined any mesosystem contextual variables that may correlate with sibling caregiving status (Saxena & Adamsons, 2013). Thus, the current study extended the literature by identifying advocacy and future planning-mesosystem-level characteristics-were correlated with greater current sibling caregiving.…”

“…Previous research had not examined any mesosystem contextual variables that may correlate with sibling caregiving status (Saxena & Adamsons, 2013). Previous research had not examined any mesosystem contextual variables that may correlate with sibling caregiving status (Saxena & Adamsons, 2013).…”

“…This framework aligns with previous sibling research. For example, Saxena and Adamsons (2013) identified characteristics of the sibling (i.e., the person) and the family (i.e., microsystem), which may correlate with current caregiving. Unfortunately, no research has examined the relation between the mesosystem and sibling caregiving.…”

Siblings of Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Theoretical Perspectives on Sibling Relationships and Individual Adjustment

“…Although elements of the most proximal context—family--have been linked to TDSibs’ and/or ASDSibs’ individual adjustment, and in the face of theory, we still know relatively little about the effects of family processes on TD-ASD sibling relationships. Equally important are contexts beyond the family (e.g., local school and medical resources, state-level educational policies, sociocultural factors) that have implications for family and sibling dynamics (Saxena & Adamsons, 2013). Cultural values and practices are among the most significant but neglected such factors, although these may have significant implications ranging from effects on siblings’ activities and family roles to the degree of their interdependence across the lifespan (Weisner, 2002).…”

Siblings of Children with Autism: the Siblings Embedded Systems Framework

“…Whilst such recent research does suggest that the field has moved away from its previous largely ‘atheoretical’ stance [9], there has been little attention given explicitly to synthesising theoretical frameworks from a wider standpoint that combines individual and broader system perspectives. Existing theoretically informed models are also not explicitly designed with a focus on sibling relationships [for an exception and comprehensive overview, see 10]. Many of the pathways shown in our framework have good empirical support, as discussed below, though others have been less thoroughly explored.

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