A systematic review of social support for siblings of children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Low social support predicts sadness and stress in siblings of kids with NDDs, so screen and boost support early.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The authors pulled every paper they could find on social support for brothers and sisters of kids with neurodevelopmental disorders. They looked at how much support the siblings got and how the kids were doing.
Most studies just asked questions once, so the team could only compare groups, not track change. They noted that tools for measuring support were all different.
What they found
Less social support went hand-in-hand with more sadness, loneliness, and stress in siblings. The link showed up again and again, even though each study used its own survey.
How this fits with other research
Bergmann et al. (2019) found the danger spot: siblings who say support is super important but rarely get it have the most emotional problems. Sutton et al. (2022) widens that picture by showing the risk holds across many diagnoses and ages.
Hastings (2003) seems to disagree at first glance. That study said siblings in home ABA programs stayed well-adjusted without extra support. The review clarifies why: support only helped when the autistic child’s symptoms were mild. Method and timing explain the gap.
Glugatch et al. (2021) gives a fix. They taught brothers and sisters simple play skills. Reciprocal play jumped right away, hinting that active sibling roles can be a form of live social support.
Why it matters
You already track parent stress. Add one quick sibling screen: ask the brother or sister to rate how often they get support and how important it feels. If support is low yet crucial, move them to the top of your referral list for sibling groups, peer hangouts, or tele-support circles. Five extra minutes can catch brewing depression before it deepens.
Want CEUs on This Topic?
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ free CEUs — live every Wednesday. Ethics, supervision & clinical topics.
Join Free →Hand the sibling a 2-question card: “How important is support? How often do you get it?” Fast-track low-support/high-importance answers to your social worker.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Social support is a protective factor for siblings of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. AIMS: We reviewed studies on social support received by siblings of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: We conducted a pre-registered systematic review (CRD42020207686), searching PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Fifteen articles were eligible for the review, 13 of which used cross-sectional designs. Two studies investigated sibling social support after an intervention. Multiple variables were negatively related to social support (e.g., sibling depression, loneliness, stress). Variables that were positively related to social support included prosocial behavior, competence (academic, social, and activity-related), problem-focused coping, and family quality of life. Potential moderators of the relationship between social support and psychosocial adjustment included the type of disorder of the affected sibling and the type of social support provider. We conclude with an overview of the reliability and validity of the seven social support measurements used across the studies. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Lower levels of social support are associated with more negative psychosocial adjustment among siblings of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. We encourage future researchers to further investigate ways to increase social support for siblings to improve outcomes.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2022 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104234