Coping Mechanisms: A Neurotypical Child's Response to a Sibling With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex lifelong neurodevelopment disorder with the current prevalence estimation of 1 in 31 children. With the rising prevalence of diagnosed individuals with ASD, there is an increase in the number of neurotypical children (NTC) who live with a sibling that has a diagnosis of ASD. Research on how NTC copes with daily stressors of a sibling with ASD and how their relationship is affected with a sibling with ASD is underexplored. Knowledge of ASD and coping strategies should become a regular process in the NTC life to help manage the stress that may come with having a sibling with ASD. The presented qualitative research used a case study with semi-structured interviews that were conducted to investigate a real-life situation through detailed, in-depth data collection that involved multiple sources of information. Twelve neurotypical child participants from ages 13 years old to 18 years old, who had a sibling with ASD, were provided with the opportunity to describe their sibling relationship. Information gathered during the interviews was used to complete a thematic analysis within the case study. The study was guided by three research questions: how neurotypical children with one sibling with ASD described their lived experience with having a sibling with autism spectrum disorder, how they described the stressors they faced having a sibling with ASD, and how they described coping with having a sibling with ASD. Themes that developed from the analysis reflected participants’ understanding of ASD, sibling-related challenges, positive bonding experiences, family dynamics, emotional responses, and coping strategies. Exploring lived experiences of having a sibling with autism spectrum disorder among neurotypical children in the adolescent stage of development helped the understanding of the unique stressors the NTC experienced due to having a sibling with ASD and how they coped with those stressors.
Author: Jones, Heather G
Institution: Liberty University
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7213564744