Emerging adults' emotions toward their siblings with down syndrome.
Encourage optimism and social support in emerging adult siblings of individuals with Down syndrome to grow warmer, less conflicted relationships.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Alon (2024) asked emerging adults how they feel about their brother or sister with Down syndrome.
They filled out a survey about optimism, social support, and sense of coherence.
The goal was to see which traits predict warm feelings and fewer angry or sad emotions.
What they found
More optimism and more social support went hand-in-hand with warmer, happier feelings.
A stronger sense of coherence—feeling life is understandable and manageable—cut down negative emotions.
The takeaway: boosting hope and support may sweeten the sibling bond.
How this fits with other research
Alon (2026) used the same survey and found the same optimism link, but also showed the effect is strongest for brothers and depends on diagnosis and how independent the sibling is.
Galuska et al. (2006) saw no adjustment problems in school-age siblings of children with Down syndrome, a seeming contrast. The gap is age: kids looked fine on parent reports, while young adults still report raw emotions that optimism can buffer.
Faso et al. (2016) tracked closeness growing from adolescence to adulthood; the new study adds that optimism and support are levers you can push to speed that closeness along.
Why it matters
You can coach siblings in their late teens and twenties to build optimism and find support groups. A quick mood check during transition planning, plus links to sibling networks, may replace future behavior problems rooted in resentment.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Typically-developing siblings of individuals with Down Syndrome often experience complex emotions towards their sibling. This study explored how social support, personal resources (optimism, sense of coherence [SOC]), and individual variables (sex, religious affiliation, siblings' functionality) may impact emerging adult siblings' emotions toward their sibling with Down Syndrome. METHODS: Participants were 292 siblings of individuals with DS ranging in age from 18-27 (M=21.54, SD=2.50). Participants completed self-report questionnaires exploring optimism, SOC, support, and acceptance. RESULTS: Higher levels of support and optimism were positively associated with positive emotions, and higher SOC with lower levels of negative emotions. Siblings' functionality and religious affiliation interacted with variables to predict emotions. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to a greater understanding of how emotions may play a role in sibling relations during the emerging adulthood stage. It also provides unique insight into how religious affiliation may be associated with more positive outcomes for siblings.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2024 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2024.104791