Kaminsky Laura, Dewey Deborah
University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2002 Feb;43(2):225-32. doi: 10.1111/1469-7610.00015.
This study investigated psychosocial adjustment in siblings of children with autism compared to siblings of children with Down syndrome and siblings of normally developing children. In addition, the relationships between feelings of loneliness, social support and psychosocial adjustment, and the influence of gender and family size on psychological adjustment were examined.
Ninety siblings (30 per group) between the ages of 8 and 18 and one parent of each child participated in this study.
Results indicated that siblings of children with autism, as well as comparison siblings, were well adjusted and reported low levels of loneliness. Siblings of children with autism also reported that they received high levels of social support in their lives.
Large family size appears to facilitate healthy adjustment in siblings of children with autism.
本研究调查了自闭症儿童的兄弟姐妹与唐氏综合征儿童的兄弟姐妹以及正常发育儿童的兄弟姐妹相比的心理社会适应情况。此外，还研究了孤独感、社会支持与心理社会适应之间的关系，以及性别和家庭规模对心理适应的影响。
90名年龄在8至18岁之间的兄弟姐妹（每组30名）及其每位孩子的一位家长参与了本研究。
结果表明，自闭症儿童的兄弟姐妹以及作为对照的兄弟姐妹适应良好，且孤独感水平较低。自闭症儿童的兄弟姐妹还报告称他们在生活中获得了高水平的社会支持。
家庭规模较大似乎有助于自闭症儿童的兄弟姐妹实现健康适应。
