A Comparative study of emotional and behavioural adjustment in siblings of children with and without autism

BACKGROUND: Siblings of children with autism have often been found to present with more psychological problems in comparison to siblings of children with other disabilities or siblings of typically developing children. Negative adjustment outcomes and externalizing problems are more in siblings of autism. As children' with autism grow older, their atypical behaviour become more difficult for typically developing children. METHOD: It is a comparative study conducted on 30 children. 15 are siblings of autism and 15 are siblings of typically developing children. Strength and difficulties questionnaire applied to siblings of both the groups, Caregivers completed the questionnaire and comparison was done. It is 25 item rating scale and measures adjustment of children RESULTS: Siblings of children with autism compared with typically developing children showed more emotional and prosocial behavioural problems.