The purpose of this study is to understand the impact that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has on the sibling relationship. This dissertation examines the perspectives of siblings of children with ASD. If 4 million children are born in the United States every year, approximately 26,670 children will eventually be diagnosed with an ASD (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). Since nearly a third of all children with a developmental disability have a sibling, it is important to understand the impact that disability has on the sibling relationship. ASD is a developmental disability that has increased in prevalence over the last couple of decades. The interaction between siblings appears to be of great importance to the sibling relationship (Knott, Lewis, & Williams, 1995). This has even more significance to siblings of children with ASD because a deficiency in social interaction is a cardinal feature of the disorder. For this reason, it seems probable that the interactions of children with ASD and their siblings may differ from other children with siblings both with and without a disability (Knott et al., 1995).
This is a qualitative study using naturalistic inquiry. A phenomenological case study was completed to understand how ASD impacts the sibling relationship. The study included five adolescent participants ranging from 11-18 years of age. These participants lived in both urban and rural settings and were within close age proximity (5 years) of their sibling. Data were collected by digitally recorded semi-structured interviews, field notes, and observations. Through data analysis the researcher identified themes and patterns that emerged regarding the sibling relationship.
The major findings of this study indicate that having a sibling with ASD does impact the sibling relationship. Four major themes emerged from the analysis of the data. These themes are: “The hardest part of ASD is feeling absolutely helpless,” “That's just the way our family is,” “Having a sibling with ASD has actually impacted my life for the better,” and “It's a blessing and a curse.”
Another finding of this research confirmed the need for specialized interventions for siblings of children with ASD. The researcher found that children have a voice that must be heard and respected. Through this research, siblings were given an opportunity to state their wants and needs. The participants stated that more information regarding their sibling's disorder would be beneficial. This finding is imperative for mental health practitioners and service providers. It provides a backdrop for providing effective and appropriate treatment interventions for siblings of children with ASD.
Finally, this research documents the need for parents, service providers, and policy makers to recognize and provide the opportunity for treatment interventions specifically for siblings of children with ASD and families of children with ASD. This research also highlights the impact that ASD has on the health and functioning of the entire family. Understanding this influence is vital to the development of key strategies and interventions for families of children with ASD.