Short Report: Outcomes for siblings associated with sub-groups of autistic children with intellectual disability identified by latent profile analysis.
Sibling conflict is highest when the autistic child shows lots of externalizing and anxiety, not necessarily the most severe ID.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Rixon et al. (2022) asked if all siblings of autistic children feel the same stress. They used a math model to sort autistic children into groups based on behavior and IQ. Then they asked the brothers and sisters how much conflict they felt at home.
What they found
Conflict was highest when the autistic child had lots of hitting, yelling, and worry. Conflict was lowest when the child had severe ID but calm behavior. The level of ID alone did not predict fights at home.
How this fits with other research
Older papers like Emmelkamp et al. (1986) and LeFrancois et al. (1993) already said siblings can feel strain. Louise adds a twist: the strain is tied to externalizing and anxiety, not to ID severity. This refines the picture Johnson et al. (2009) gave when they saw more emotional problems in ASD-plus-ID siblings than ID-only siblings.
Dudley et al. (2019) found siblings reported similar feelings across groups, while parents saw more family impact. Louise’s mixed results echo that mismatch: child profile shapes conflict, yet the story looks different depending on whom you ask.
Hastings (2003) warned that brothers and younger sibs are at risk. Louise shows the real target is living with high externalizing behaviors, no matter birth order.
Why it matters
You can now screen sibling stress quickly. Ask about the autistic child’s hitting, screaming, and anxiety, not just test scores. If those behaviors are high, start supports like respite or sibling clubs right away. When the child shows severe ID but calm mood, you can ease back and focus on other goals.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Recent research suggests that having a brother or sister with autism may contribute to increased positive or negative emotional or psychological impact on siblings. AIMS: To use a novel multidimensional data analysis method to further understand outcomes for siblings of autistic children. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: 318 siblings of children with a recorded autism diagnosis and an intellectual disability were included for latent profile analysis. Five variables (DBC disruptive and anxiety; VABS II communication, daily living, and socialization skills) were used to identify sub-groups of autistic children. Primary carers reported on sibling relationship quality (items from the Sibling Relationship Questionnaire warmth/closeness and conflict scales), and siblings' behavioral and emotional problems. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: The profile groups differed in their levels of ID coupled with disruptive behavior, emotional problems and adaptive skills. Profiles included a severe ID, low behavior and emotional problems and low adaptive skills group; a group with mild ID coupled with high adaptive skills and low emotional and behavioral problems; and a mild ID group with high emotional and behavioral problems. Conflict in the sibling relationship differed across the profile groups (F (4304) = 15.13, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Siblings of autistic children with the highest support needs were reported to have the lowest conflict in their relationships. Conversely, siblings of the autistic children with the highest levels of externalizing behaviors and anxiety were reported to have the highest levels of conflict in the sibling relationship.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2022 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104337