Study of Changes in Autism Sibling Behavior and Attitudes after Participation in Sibling Support

Background:  Due to the autism stigma in the Middle East, many family members of children with autism do not talk about their family member’s diagnosis outside of the home. Because of this, many siblings of children with autism have never shared their sibling’s diagnosis with anyone else and have a limited understanding of autism and how to interact with their sibling. This study measures increases in sibling confidence, understanding of autism and desire to support siblings with autism after participation in a sibling support program.

Objectives:  To assess changes in sibling confidence, understanding of autism and desire to support their siblings with autism before and after participating in a sibling support program.

Methods:  A total of thirty-three siblings (n=33), between the ages of six and fourteen, of children who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders from Jenin and Ramallah Palestine participated in this study, with 9 siblings from Ramallah and 24 siblings from Jenin. The siblings answered questions verbally at the beginning and end of sibling support sessions and their responses were recorded in writing. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed.

Results: Results across the Jenin and Ramallah groups suggested that meeting other siblings of children with autism and learning about their siblings’ diagnoses had a substantial impact on participating siblings’ desire to support their siblings with autism. Discussions that occurred between siblings also suggest the value of siblings with autism developing relationships with other children with similar experiences. Autism stigma and a desire to hide the autism label from siblings were identified as primary factors preventing social interactions between siblings of children with autism. 

Conclusions:  Siblings can benefit from sibling support through the formation of friendships with other children with similar experiences, and through increased self-confidence in supporting their siblings with autism. Reducing autism stigma will increase social acceptability of talking about autism diagnoses in Palestine and will facilitate the formation of relationships between siblings of children with autism.