Adult sibling experience, roles, relationships and future concerns - a review of the literature in learning disabilities

A Study on the Life Experiences of Adolescents Who Grew up with Younger Siblings with Developmental Disabilities: Focusing on Phenomenological Analysis Methods

This study aims to explore specific life experiences and what it means to “live as a sibling of a disabled person”, by focusing on the brothers and sisters of persons with disabilities; this is a cohort that has been relatively marginalized in the field of welfare for the disabled. To this end, the author conducted 1:1 in-depth interviews with four adolescents who grew up with younger siblings who have developmental disabilities, and analyzed the meaning underlying their life experiences through phenomenological research methods. As a result, a total of five core themes of those life experiences were identified: (1) the birth of a disabled younger sibling, wherein their trials began; (2) surviving differentiation within the family; (3) ambivalence toward parents; (4) adolescence, with resurfaced psychological conflicts and relieving emotions; and (5) a future to be planned around a life of coexisting with disabled siblings. This study aims to provide basic data for social welfare intervention through an illuminating and deeper understanding of the lives of siblings of the developmentally disabled who require a high level of care.

Adult Siblings Who Have a Brother or Sister with Autism: Between-Family and Within-Family Variations in Sibling Relationships

Prior research on the sibling relationship in the context of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has included only one sibling per family. We used multi-level modeling to examine aspects of the sibling relationship in 207 adults who have a brother or sister with ASD from 125 families, investigating variability in sibling relationship quality and pessimism within and between families. We found that there was greater variability in aspects of the sibling relationship with the brother or sister with ASD within families than between families. Sibling individual-level factors were associated with positive affect in the sibling relationship, while family-level factors were associated with the sibling's pessimism about their brother or sister's future. The findings illustrate the unique experiences of siblings within families.