From SAR, study on siblings

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Brief Report: Behavioral Adjustment Of Siblings Of Children With Autism.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_ui

ds=12708585 & dopt=Abstract < - - address ends here.

Hastings RP.

School of Psychology, University of Wales Bangor, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG,

Wales, UK. r.hastings@...

      Existing research studies have shown mixed results relating to the

impact upon children of having a sibling with a disability.

      However, siblings of children with autism may be more at risk than

siblings of children with other disabilities.

      In the present study, data were gathered on 22 siblings of children

with autism.

      These children were rated by their mothers as having more behavior

problems and fewer prosocial behaviors than a normative sample.

      Analysis of variables predicting sibling behavioral adjustment

revealed that boys with siblings who have autism, and also those younger

than their sibling with autism, engaged in fewer prosocial behaviors.

      Psychological adjustment of mothers (stress) and the child with autism

(behavior problems) were not predictive of sibling behavioral adjustment.

      PMID: 12708585 [PubMed - in process]