Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026
Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
Social Interactions Between 24-Month-Old Children and Their Older Sibling with Autism Spectrum Disorder:
Chloè Bontinck1, Petra Warreyn2, Ellen Demurie2
1Department of Experimental-Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. Chloe.Bontinck@Ugent.be.
Insights
Early sibling interactions in families with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show differences. High-risk siblings displayed fewer positive behaviors, impacting younger children
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Sibling interactions are crucial for child development.
- Understanding early interactions in families with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is vital for identifying developmental trajectories.
- Previous research has not fully explored the nuances of sibling dyadic interactions in high-risk families.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare sibling interactions between 24-month-old children with an older sibling with ASD (high-risk) and those with a typically developing older sibling (low-risk).
- To investigate the association between sibling interactions and developmental outcomes, specifically language abilities and ASD characteristics, in younger siblings.
Main Methods:
- Comparative study design involving 24-month-old children and their older siblings.
- Two groups were analyzed: high-risk (older sibling diagnosed with ASD) and low-risk (older sibling typically developing).
- Observational analysis of sibling interactions, including positive and negative behaviors, imitation, and overall interaction frequency.
Main Results:
- High-risk sibling pairs exhibited lower levels of positive behavior.
- Younger siblings in high-risk groups demonstrated less imitation of their older sibling.
- Positive interactions in high-risk families were initially associated with younger child's language abilities, but this link diminished after controlling for earlier language development.
- Increased overall sibling interactions (both positive and negative) in high-risk families correlated with more pronounced ASD characteristics in the younger child.
Conclusions:
- Early sibling interactions in families with ASD present distinct patterns compared to low-risk families.
- The findings suggest that sibling interaction dynamics may offer insights into the developmental pathways of younger siblings of children with ASD.
- Further research into these early interactions can inform early identification and intervention strategies for children at risk for developmental differences.
Abstract:
This study compared sibling interactions between 24-month-old children and their older sibling with ASD (high-risk; n = 24) with 24-month-old children and their typically developing older sibling (low-risk; n = 32). First, high-risk sibling pairs showed lower levels of positive behaviour and younger siblings of children with ASD imitated their older sibling less. Second, in the high-risk group positive interactions were positively associated with the youngest child's language abilities. However, this association was no longer significant after controlling for language abilities at 14 months. Third, more total interactions in the high-risk group, both negative and positive, were associated with more ASD characteristics. Thus, early sibling interactions might reveal interesting information in light of the (atypical) developmental trajectories of younger siblings of children with ASD.
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