This master’s thesis discusses how siblings experience growing up and cohabiting with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and what kind of impact these experiences have had on their lives. The theoretical part of the thesis provides the definition of ASD, historical overview of research about autism, aetiology, terminology, prevalence of ASD and main characteristics of children with ASD. Furthermore, I describe peculiarities in everyday lives of families with special needs children, challenges of families living with a child with ASD and focus on effects of ASD on siblings, since their perspectives are often overlooked. I studied the effects of ASD on sibling relationships from early childhood into adulthood, the factors that had an effect on siblings while growing up and what types of research already exist on the matter. I wanted to research which types of help and support have been found effective for siblings of children with ASD.
The aim of the empirical part was to examine and present relevant themes emphasised by siblings of children with ASD. This study used the qualitative research approach. Interviews were conducted with seven siblings of children with ASD of different ages. The intention was to get information about how they experience their relationships with a brother or sister with ASD, what kind of roles they take on in their interpersonal relationships and in the family context and how growing up and cohabiting alongside ASD siblings affected them.
The aforementioned analysis found that family quality of life is affected by severity of ASD, comorbidity and family connectedness. The latter is dependent on successfulness of overcoming the challenges of ASD and parental stress. A connected and resilient family presents a protective factor and key social support for the siblings. The results show that siblings of children with ASD take on diverse and atypical roles and also indicate differences between genders. Sisters are more integrated into family life in comparison to brothers and therefore reported more perceived effects of ASD on family life, for instance additional care, advocacy, faster maturing and assumption of responsibility due to differential treatment and divided attention of the parents.
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