"A positive experience over a negative one": Stress, coping, and the experiences of adult siblings of intellectually and/or developmentally disabled individuals.
Adult siblings mainly cope through self-blame, practical help, and acceptance, so BCBAs should screen and offer tailored coping resources.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Abney et al. (2026) talked with adult brothers and sisters of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. They asked open questions about daily stress and how each person copes.
The team looked for repeating ideas, not numbers. They wanted to map the stressors and the coping tools these siblings use.
What they found
Four big themes came up. Siblings worry about future caretaking, fight to feel normal, wish parents had shared more information, and try to see the bright side.
Most relied on self-blame, practical help from friends, and simple acceptance. The study says clinicians should screen for these patterns and offer matched resources.
How this fits with other research
Heald et al. (2020) surveyed the same group and found higher depression and lower life satisfaction than in other adults. C et al. now show the inside story of how that stress feels and how siblings try to manage it.
Manor-Binyamini et al. (2012) and Findler et al. (2009) saw growth and higher self-esteem in adolescent siblings. The new adult data look darker, but the gap is about life stage, not conflict. Teens may feel pride while adults face real planning loads.
Perez et al. (2015) showed caregivers feel lost in the service maze. C et al. add that even non-caregiving adults carry worry and use self-blame, pointing to a need for earlier, broader coping support.
Why it matters
If you serve adults with ID/DD, remember their brothers and sisters are hidden clients. Ask how they cope, note self-blame, and give concrete tools like respite lists, planning guides, or brief CBT. A ten-minute screen can open a door to longer-term support.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Millions of children worldwide are living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with the many family members who love and care for them also impacted by their unique strengths, challenges, and needs. However, little is known about this experience from the vantage point of siblings. AIM: To explore the stress and coping experiences of adult siblings of intellectually and/or developmentally disabled individuals, while identifying opportunities for enhancing family-centered care. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: This explanatory, sequential mixed-methods study was conducted in two phases: first, electronic administration of the Coping Resources Inventory, the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory, and the Perceived Stress Scale; and second, completion of an optional 1-hour semi-structured interview. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: 27 adult siblings of intellectually and/or developmentally disabled people completed Phase 1 data collection, and 13 participants additionally completed Phase 2. Participants most frequently reported use of Self-Blame, Instrumental Support, and Acceptance coping styles, and, overall, emotional and social coping resource types were most frequently endorsed. Interview responses produced four themes: 1) caretaking across the lifespan, 2) negotiating normalcy in and outside the household, 3) parental transparency about sibling diagnosis and 4) reframing the sibling experience. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the results of this study suggest that providers, clinicians, and caregivers can better support siblings of intellectually and/or developmentally disabled individuals by recognizing their unique stressors and experiences, helping them to negotiate a sense of normalcy, and meeting their coping preferences and needs.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2026 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2026.105272