(PS3-A17) Profiles of Sibling Relationships in Autistic Youth: Associations with Youth Characteristics, Family Functioning, and Peer Relations

Extant research on sibling relationships in autistic youth focuses predominantly on adjustment-related outcomes of non-autistic siblings, with less focus on sibling dynamics. As such, the nature of sibling relationships among autistic youth remains poorly understood. Research on non-autistic youth suggests that sibling relationships are especially significant across development because they provide a primary context for socialization and are linked to social outcomes. The objective of this study was to (a) explore the landscape of sibling relationships in autistic youth, and (b) identify how youth characteristics, family functioning, and peer relation variables are associated with sibling relationships.

Participants (N = 2,142) were caregivers of autistic youth (age 6-17; M = 11.07 years; SD = 3.17; 80.1% male). Caregivers completed electronic measures assessing youth sibling relations, youth characteristics related to ASD symptom severity (social communication deficits, and repetitive and restrictive behaviors), family cohesion and adaptability, dimensions of caregiver stress (caregiver-youth relationship dysfunction, caregiver distress, and perceived youth difficulty), caregiver romantic relationship satisfaction, and youth peer relations. We performed a latent profile analysis using the sibling relations measure (the Network of Relationships Inventory), which yielded a 3-group solution: a positive group, characterized by high levels of emotional support and companionship and low levels of conflict and criticism (n = 391; 18.2%), a negative group, characterized by high levels of conflict and criticism and low levels of emotional support and companionship (n = 369; 17.2%), and a disengaged group, characterized by low levels of all four dimensions (n = 1,382; 64.5%). We performed ANOVAs to examine differences between sibling profile groups on youth characteristics, family functioning, and peer relations. ANOVAs showed significant main effects for youth repetitive and restrictive behaviors, F (2, 2139) = 22.04, p < .001, family cohesion, F (2, 2139) = 59.69, p < .001, family adaptability, F (2, 2139) = 43.75, p < .001, caregiver distress, F (2, 2139) = 43.75, p < .001, perceptions of child difficulty, F (2, 2139) = 119.65, p < .001, caregiver-youth relationship dysfunction, F (2, 2139) = 103.55, p < .001, satisfaction in caregiver romantic relations, F (2, 2139) = 11.62, p < .001, number of friends, F (2, 2139) = 21.30, p < .001, and emotional bonding with peers F (2, 2139) = 33.22, p < .001. 

Overall, findings suggest that relations between autistic youth and their siblings are characterized by low levels of warmth and conflict. Youths with positive sibling relationships had more adaptive family dynamics than youths with disengaged sibling relationships, who in turn, had more adaptive family dynamics than the youths with negative sibling relationships. Regarding peer relations, youth with positive sibling relationships had more friends and more closeness with friends compared to youths with disengaged or negative sibling relationships. Implications for further research and treatment are discussed.