Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sibling Relationships When a Child Has Autism: Marital Stress and Support Coping

  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Family systems theory was employed to study sibling relationships in 50 families with a child with autism. Typically developing siblings expressed satisfaction with their sibling relationships. Parents were somewhat less positive about the sibling relationship than were the siblings themselves. As hypothesized, stress in the marital relationship was associated with compromised sibling relationships. Informal social support buffered the deleterious effects of marital stress on positive, but not negative, aspects of the sibling relationship. Contrary to predictions, families experiencing high marital stress who sought greater support from formal resources external to the family had typically developing siblings who reported a higher level of negative sibling behaviors than families who sought low levels of formal support. Findings reinforce the importance of considering family context as a contributor to the quality of the sibling relationship.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Bägenholm, A., & Gillberg, C. (1991). Psychosocial effects on siblings of children with autism and mental retardation: A population-based study. Journal of Mental Deficiency Research, 35, 291–307.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beckman, P. (1991). Comparison of mothers' and fathers' perceptions of the effect of young children with and without disabilities. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 95, 585–595.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blair, P., & others (1996). Parental perceptions of the lifestyle changes associated with having an autistic child: Gender comparison. (ERIC Document Reproductive Service No. ED 390 236).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouma, R., & Schweitzer, R. (1990). The impact of chronic childhood illness on family stress: A comparison between autism and cystic fibrosis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 46, 722–730.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brinker, R. P., Seifer, R., & Sameroff, A. J. (1994). Relations among maternal stress, cognitive development, and early intervention in middle-and low-SES infants with developmental disabilities. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 98, 463–480.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bristol, M. M. (1987). Mothers of children with autism or communication disorders: Successful adaptation and the Double ABCX Model. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 17, 469–486.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bristol, M. M., Gallagher, J. J., & Schopler, E. (1988). Mothers and fathers of young developmentally disabled and nondisabled boys: Adaptation and spousal support. Developmental Psychology, 24, 441–451.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bristol, M. M., & Schopler, E. (1984). A developmental perspective on stress and coping in families of autistic children. In J. Blacher (Ed.), Severely handicapped young children and their families (pp. 91–141). Orlando, FL: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broderick, C., & Smith, J. (1979). The general systems approach to the family. In W. R. Burr, R. Hill, F. I. Nye, & I. L. Reiss (Eds.). Contemporary theories about the family: Volume II (pp. 112–129). New York: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brody, G., Stoneman, Z., & Burke, M. (1987). Family systems and the individual correlates of sibling behavior. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 57, 561–569.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brody, G. H., Stoneman, Z., & Gauger, K. (1996). Parent-child relationships, family problem-solving behavior, and sibling relationship quality: The moderating role of sibling temperaments. Child Development, 67, 1289–1300.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brody, G. H., Stoneman, Z., & McCoy, J. K. (1994a). Contributions of family relationships and child temperaments to longitudinal variations in sibling relationship quality and sibling relationship styles. Journal of Family Psychology, 8, 274–286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brody, G. H., Stoneman, Z., & McCoy, J. K. (1994b). Forecasting sibling relationships in early adolescence from child temperaments and family processes in middle childhood. Child Development, 65, 771–784.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J., & Cohen, P. (1983). Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences. Hillsdale, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24, 385–397.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crnic, K. A., Friedreich, W. N., & Greenberg, M. T. (1983). Adaptation of families with mentally retarded children: A model of stress, coping, and family ecology. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 88, 125–138.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Donenberg, G., & Baker, B. L. (1993). The impact of young children with externalizing behaviors on their families. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 21, 179–200.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dumas, J. E., Wolf, L. C., Fisman, S. N., & Culligan, A. (1991). Parenting stress, child behavior problems, and dysphoria in parents of children with autism, Down syndrome, behavior disorders, and normal development. Exceptionality, 2, 97–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, J., Slomkowski, C., & Beardsall, L. (1994). Sibling relationships from the preschool period through middle childhood and early adolescence. Developmental Psychology, 30, 315–324.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunst, C. J., Trivette, C. M., & Cornwell, J. (1989). Family needs, social support, and self-efficacy during a child's transition to school. Early Education and Development, 1, 7–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunst, C., Trivette, C., & Cross, A. (1986). Mediating influences of social support: Personal, family and child outcomes. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 90(4), 403–417.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dyson, L. L., Edgar, E., & Crnic, K. (1989). Psychological predictors of adjustment of siblings of developmentally disabled children. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 94, 292–302.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • El-Ghoroury, N. H., & Romanczyk, R. G. (1999). Play interactions of family members towards children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 28, 249–258.

    Google Scholar 

  • Factor, D. C., Perry, A., & Freeman, N. (1990). Brief report: Stress, social support, and respite care use in families with autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 20, 139–146.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fisman, S., Wolf, L., Ellison, D., Gillis, B., & Freeman, T. (2000). A longitudinal study of siblings of children with chronic disabilities. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 45, 369–375.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisman, S., Wolf, L., Ellison, D., Gillis, B., Freeman, T., & Szatmari, P. (1996). Risk and protective factors affecting the adjustment of siblings of children with chronic disabilities. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 35, 1532–1541.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Furman, W., & Buhrmester, D. (1985). Children's perceptions of the qualities of sibling relationships. Child Development, 56, 448–461.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gamble, W. C., & McHale, S. M. (1989). Coping with stress in sibling relationships: A comparison of children with disabled and nondisabled siblings. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 10, 353–373.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gold, N. (1993). Depression and social adjustment in siblings of boys with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 23, 147–163.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gowen, J. W., Johnson-Martin, N., Goldman, B. D., & Applebaum, M. (1989). Feelings of depression and parenting competence of mothers of handicapped and nonhandicapped infants: A longitudinal study. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 94, 259–271.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hampson, R. B., Huglus, Y. F., Beavers, W. R., & Beavers, J. S. (1988). The assessment of competence in families with a retarded child. Journal of Family Psychology, 2, 32–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, S. L. (1994). Siblings of children with autism: A guide for families. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heller, T., Markwardt, R., Rowitz, L., & Farber, B. (1994). Adaptation of Hispanic families to a member with mental retardation. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 99, 289–300.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, D., & Vanderberg, B. (1992). Factors influencing adjustment in the families of autistic children. Psychological Reports, 71, 167–171.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holyroyd, J., & McArthur, D. (1976). Mental retardation and stress on the parents:Acontrast between Down's syndrome and childhood autism. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 80, 431–436.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Howlin, P. (1988). Living with impairment: The effects on children of living with an autistic sibling. Child: Care, Health, and Development, 14, 395–408.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, J. (1992). Sibling relationships in disharmonious homes: Potential difficulties and protective effects. In F. Boer & J. Dunn (Eds.), Children's sibling relationships: Developmental and clinical issues (pp. 125–138). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaminsky, L., & Dewey, D. (2001). Siblings relationships of children with autism. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 31, 399–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasari, C., & Sigman, M. (1997). Linking parental perceptions to interactions in young children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 27, 39–57.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kazak, A. E. (1988). Stress and social networks in families with older institutionalized retarded children. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 6, 448–461.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knott, F., Lewis, C., & Williams, T. (1995). Sibling interaction of children with learning disabilities: A comparison of autism and Down's syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 6, 965–976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanthier, R. P., & Furman, W. (May, 1992). Stress and sibling relationship quality in middle childhood. Presented at the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, Illinois.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCubbin, H. I., Olson, D., & Larsen, A. (1987). F-COPES, Family crisis oriented coping evaluation scales. In H. I. McCubbin & A. I. Thompson (Eds.), Family assessment inventories for research and practice (pp. 203–216). Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCubbin, H. I., Thompson, A. I., & McCubbin, M. A. (1996). Family assessment: Resiliency, coping, and adaptation. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin.

    Google Scholar 

  • McHale, S. M., & Gamble, W. C. (1987). Sibling relationships and adjustment of children with disabled brothers and sisters. Journal of Children in Contemporary Society, 19, 131–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • McHale, S. M., & Gamble, W. C. (1989). Sibling relationships of children with disabled and nondisabled brothers and sisters. Developmental Psychology, 25, 421–429.

    Google Scholar 

  • McHale, S. M., Simeonsson, R. J., & Sloan, J. (1984). Children with handicapped brothers and sisters. In E. Schopler & G. Mesibov (Eds.), Issues in autism, Vol. 2: The effects of autism in the family (pp. 327–342). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • McHale, S. M., Sloan, J., & Simeonsson, R. J. (1986). Sibling relationships of children with autistic, mentally retarded, and nonhandicapped brothers and sisters. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 16, 399–413.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mates, T. E. (1990). Siblings of autistic children: Their adjustment and performance at home and in school. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 20, 545–553.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, S. B. (1988). The autistic child and family functioning: A developmental-family system perspective. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 18, 263–280.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nixon, C. L., & Cummings, E. M. (1999). Sibling disability and children's reactivity to conflicts involving family members. Journal of Family Psychology, 13, 274–285.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson, P. H. (1977). Insiders' and outsiders' views of relationships: Research studies. In G. Levinger & H. L. Rausch (Eds.): Close relationships: Perspectives on the meaning of intimacy (pp. 115–135). Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigue, J. R., Morgan, S. B., & Geffken, G. R. (1990). Families of autistic children: Psychological functioning of mothers. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 19, 371–379.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigue, J. R., Geffken, G. R., & Morgan, S. B. (1993). Perceived competence and behavioral adjustment of siblings of children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 23, 665–674.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roeyers, H., & Mycke, K. (1995). Siblings of children with autism, with mental retardation and with normal development. Child: Care, Health & Development, 21, 305–319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanders, J. L., & Morgan, S. (1997). Family stress and adjustment as perceived by parents of children with autism or Down Syndrome: Implications for intervention. Child & Family Behavior Therapy, 19, 15–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaeffer, E., & Edgerton, M. (1981). The sibling inventory of behavior. Unpublished manuscript. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seltzer, M. M., & Krauss, M. W. (1989). Aging parents with adult mentally retarded children: Family risk factors and sources of support. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 94, 303–312.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shonkoff, J. P., Hauser-Cram, P., Krauss, M. W., & Upshur, C. (1992). Development of infants with disabilities and their families: Implications for theory and service delivery. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 57 (6) (Serial No. 230).

  • Stoneman, Z. (1993). Common themes and divergent paths. In Z. Stoneman & P. W. Berman (Eds.), The effects of mental retardation, disability, and illness on sibling relationships. (pp. 355–365). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoneman, Z. (1997). Mental retardation and family adaptation. In W. E. MacLean, Jr. (Ed.). Ellis' handbook of mental deficiency, psychological theory and research (pp. 405–437). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoneman, Z. (1998). Research on siblings of children with mental retardation: Contributions of developmental theory and etiology. In J. A. Burack, R. M. Hodapp, & E. Zigler (Eds.), Handbook of mental retardation and development (pp. 669–692). Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoneman, Z. (2001). Supporting positive sibling relationships during childhood. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 7, 134–142.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stoneman, Z., Brody, G. H., Churchill, S. L., & Winn, L. (1999). Effects of residential instability on Head Start children and their siblings: Influences of child emotionality and conflict between family caregivers. Child Development, 20, 1246–1262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strain, P. S., & Danko, C. D. (1995). Caregivers' encouragement of positive interaction between preschoolers with autism and their siblings. Journal of Emotional and Behavior Disorders, 3, 2–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trute, B., & Hauch, C. (1988). Social network attributes of families with positive adaptation to the birth of a developmentally disabled child. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 7, 5–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waisbren, S. E. (1980). Parents' reactions after the birth of a developmentally disabled child. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 84, 354–366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, D. M., & Roopnarine, J. L. (1994). Fathers' child care involvement with children with and without disabilities. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 14, 488–502.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Autism Consultant, Portsmouth, VA

    Jessica Wood Rivers

  2. Institute on Human Development and Disability, The University of Georgia, USA

    Zolinda Stoneman

Authors
  1. Jessica Wood Rivers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zolinda Stoneman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zolinda Stoneman.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rivers, J.W., Stoneman, Z. Sibling Relationships When a Child Has Autism: Marital Stress and Support Coping. J Autism Dev Disord 33, 383–394 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025006727395

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025006727395

Search

Navigation