Experience of having a sibling with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review protocol

This qualitative systematic review aims to understand the experiences of neurotypical siblings of a person with autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder influences communication and social interaction with other people and has a significant impact on family relationships. The experiences of siblings range from the positive, such as development of increased empathy and ability to cope with challenges, to experiences that are more negative, such as a higher risk of bullying. In many countries, neurotypical siblings are marginalized and don't receive adequate support to cope with the increased challenges.

This review will consider qualitative studies exploring the experiences of siblings of a person with autism spectrum disorder. There will be no limitations regarding age, gender, sex, or length of relationship with the sibling. We will consider studies from all countries and contexts.

This study will be conducted according to the JBI methodology for qualitative reviews. A 3-step search strategy will be used to find published and unpublished studies from the following sources: MEDLINE, CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, Scopus, SocINDEX, Web of Science, Embase, ERIC, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Open Dissertations, and Google Scholar (first 100 records). There will be no search limitations on the publication period or language, but only studies with an English-language abstract/title will be considered for inclusion. Screening, data extraction, and data synthesis will be conducted by 2 independent reviewers.