THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TYPICALLY DEVELOPING SIBLINGS OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN AND THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, SELF-CONCEPT, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT
Main Article Content
Keywords
autistic, psychological adjustment, mothers stress, siblings
Abstract
Objectives: The current study examines the academic, emotional, and psychological outcomes of usually developing siblings of children with autism. It was assumed that the siblings of autistic children would likewise have negative outcomes. Autistic children have higher levels of academic success, self-esteem, and psychological adjustment when compared to their typically developing siblings.
Methods: The study employed a between-group design and utilized quantitative methods. The study had a grand total of 88 individuals. Out of the total participants, there were 22 children diagnosed with autism, 22 usually developing siblings, 22 moms, and 22 normal controls. All of them took part in the study together with their respective mothers. Path analysis, hierarchical regression, correlation coefficient, independent sample t test, and data were employed for data analysis.
Results: Autistic children showed much poorer psychological adjustment and self-concept compared to their regularly developing siblings. Mothers with children who have autism experience elevated levels of stress in comparison to mothers whose children do not have autism. Individuals who have siblings with autism are at a higher risk of encountering psychological and emotional challenges, as well as behavioral and social issues. The psychological adaptation of siblings of autistic children is influenced by parental stress, rejection, and family discord. Path analysis reveals a significant impact of maternal depression and stress on the psychological adjustment, pro-social conduct, academic performance, and self-concept of siblings.
Conclusion: The level of control exerted by one's family has a significant impact on how one perceives oneself, while conflicts within the family have a considerable influence on one's psychological well-being and tendency to engage in pro-social conduct. Taking into account the cultural context of Pakistan, researchers, mental health specialists, and doctors evaluate the importance of these findings.
References
2. Caner, N., SezerEfe, Y., Vural, B., &Ertaş, E. B. (2024). Peer relationships, emotional and behavioral problems in siblings of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Children and Youth Services Review, 156, 107372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107372
3. Cebula, K., Gillooly, A., Coulthard, L. K., Riby, D. M., & Hastings, R. P. (2019). Siblings of children with Williams syndrome: Correlates of psychosocial adjustment and sibling relationship quality. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 94, 103496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2019.103496
4. Doody, M. A., Hastings, R. P., O’Neill, S., & Grey, I. M. (2010).Sibling relationships in adults who have siblings with or without intellectual disabilities.Research in Developmental Disabilities, 31(1), 224–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2009.09.007
5. Gregory, A., Hastings, R. P., &Kovshoff, H. (2020).Academic self-concept and sense of school belonging of adolescent siblings of autistic children.Research in Developmental Disabilities, 96, 103519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2019.103519
6. Hassan, M., Fang, S., Rizwan, M., AsmaSeemi Malik, &IqraMushtaque. (2024). Impact of Financial Stress, Parental Expectation and Test Anxiety on Role of Suicidal Ideation: A Cross-Sectional Study among Pre-Medical Students. the International Journal of Mental Health Promotion (Print), 26(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2023.043096
7. Haukeland, Y. B., Czajkowski, N. O., Fjermestad, K. W., Silverman, W. K., Mossige, S., &Vatne, T. M. (2020). Evaluation of “SIBS”, An Intervention for Siblings and Parents of Children with Chronic Disorders. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 29(8), 2201–2217. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-020-01737-x
8. Hayden, N., & Hastings, R. P. (2022).Family theories and siblings of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.International Review of Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.irrdd.2022.09.001
9. Inam, A. (2014). Psychological Adjustment, Self Concept and Academic Performance of Typical Siblings of Children with Autism.178.187. http://142.54.178.187:9060/xmlui/handle/123456789/2765
10. Kirchhofer, S. M., Orm, S., Haukeland, Y. B., Fredriksen, T., Wakefield, C. E., &Fjermestad, K. W. (2022). A systematic review of social support for siblings of children with neurodevelopmental disorders.Research in Developmental Disabilities, 126, 104234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104234
11. Kovshoff, H., Cebula, K., Tsai, H.-W.J., & Hastings, R. P. (2017). Siblings of Children with Autism: the Siblings Embedded Systems Framework. Current Developmental Disorders Reports, 4(2), 37–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40474-017-0110-5
12. Lee, C. E., Hagiwara, M., & Black, H. (2021).A scoping review of cross-cultural experiences of siblings of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the United States.Research in Developmental Disabilities, 112, 103916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103916
13. Mushtaque, I., Owaisi, A. M., Malik, A. S., Hussain, M., &Rizwan, M. (2023). Cases of Child Sexual Abuse in Pakistan: A Wake-Up Call for Public Health Concern. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 35(1), 80–81. https://doi.org/10.1177/10105395221147353
14. Mushtaque, I., Rizwan, M., Abbas, M., Khan, A. A., Fatima, S. M., Jaffri, Q. A., Mushtaq, R., Hussain, S., Shabbir, S. W., Naz, R., &Muneer, K. (2021). Inter-Parental Conflict’s Persistent Effects on Adolescent Psychological Distress, Adjustment Issues, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Lockdown. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying, 003022282110543. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228211054316
15. Shivers, C. M. (2019).Empathy and perceptions of their brother or sister among adolescent siblings of individuals with and without autism spectrum disorder.Research in Developmental Disabilities, 92, 103451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2019.103451
16. Tsai, H.-W. J., Cebula, K., & Fletcher-Watson, S. (2016). Influences on the psychosocial adjustment of siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder in Taiwan and the United Kingdom.Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 32, 115–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2016.09.007
17. Vermaes, I. P. R., van Susante, A. M. J., & van Bakel, H. J. A. (2011). Psychological Functioning of Siblings in Families of Children with Chronic Health Conditions: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 37(2), 166–184. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsr081
18. Wolff, B., Magiati, I., Roberts, R., Pellicano, E., & Glasson, E. J. (2022). Risk and resilience factors impacting the mental health and wellbeing of siblings of individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions: A mixed methods systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 98, 102217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102217
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Dr. Aqeel Ahmad Khan
Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Psychology, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Gull Naz Khan
PhD, Scholar, Department of Applied Psychology, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
Muhammad Sajjad
PhD Scholar, Department of Applied Psychology, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
Madiha Akram
Lecturer, Department of Applied Psychology, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Aamir Iqbal
PhD, Scholar, Department of Applied Psychology, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Ravi Raja
MBBS, MRCGP, Liaquat University of Medical and Healh Sciences Jamshoro, Pakistan
Rabia Bashir
Government Primary School 68 K.B. Saincha Wala Tehsil Mailsi District Vehari.
Allah Ditta
Principal/Managing Director Sunnat Academy & Counseling Services of Pakistan Mailsi, Vehari