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Longitudinal Relationships Between Sibling Behavioral Adjustment and Behavior Problems of Children with Developmental Disabilities

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Abstract

Siblings of children with developmental disabilities were assessed twice, 2 years apart (N = 75 at Time 1, N = 56 at Time 2). Behavioral adjustment of the siblings and their brother or sister with developmental disability was assessed. Comparisons of adjustment for siblings of children with autism, Down syndrome, and mixed etiology mental retardation failed to identify group differences. Regression analysis showed that the behavior problems of the child with developmental disability at Time 1, but not the change in their behavior over time, predicted sibling adjustment over 2 years. There was no evidence that this putative temporal relationship operated bidirectionally: sibling adjustment did not appear to be related to the behavior problems of the children with developmental disabilities over time.

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Acknowledgment

Preparation of this manuscript was supported in part by a grant from the Baily Thomas Charitable Fund. Any opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Baily Thomas Charitable Fund.

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  1. School of Psychology, University of Wales Bangor, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2AS, UK

    Richard P. Hastings

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Hastings, R.P. Longitudinal Relationships Between Sibling Behavioral Adjustment and Behavior Problems of Children with Developmental Disabilities. J Autism Dev Disord 37, 1485–1492 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0230-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0230-y

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