title: Perceived competence and behavioral adjustment of siblings of children with autism.
abstract: Compared 19 siblings of severely autistic children with 20 siblings of children with Down  syndrome and 20 siblings of developmentally normal children. Results reveal that siblings of autistic children have more internalizing and externalizing behavior problems than siblings of developmentally normal children; however, the three groups did not differ significantly on measures of perceived self-competence or parents' report of social competence. Examination of demographic variables indicate that age of sibling and parents' marital satisfaction were associated with siblings' psychological functioning. Implications for future research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610-0165.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rodrigue
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Geffken
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D010553:Personality Development; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012801:Sibling Relations; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D012951:Socialization