AAP News Vol. 13 No. 2 February 1997, p. 2
© 1997 American Academy of Pediatrics
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Siblings at risk

Luann Zanzola

Brothers and sisters of children with a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), such as autism, face a greater risk for maladjustment — and are less insulated by protective factors— than siblings of children with other disabilities.

A three-year Canadian study compared 46 siblings of children with PDD, 45 siblings of children with Down's syndrome (DS), and 46 controls, siblings of developmentally normal children.

Adjustment was determined by how the siblings, their caretakers and teachers answered a variety of questionnaires on such factors as caretaker's mental health, caretaker stress in relation to the disabled child, marital and family relationships, sibling self-concept and sibling relationships with the handicapped child. Analysis showed: