The Cerebra 1000 Families Study is exploring the experiences of families who live with a child with a learning disability in the UK. This research will further our understanding of what it is like to raise a child with a learning disability in the UK and will help shape future support for families and children.
In this article researchers Nikita Hayden and Louise Rixon explain some of the research they have undertaken as part of the project into sibling relationships.
Sibling relationships where one sibling has a learning disability
“Hello, I’m Nikita Hayden and I want to share with you a study where one sibling has a learning disability. Sibling relationships are really important. Siblings have the potential to provide care, support, friendship and advocacy for one another. The sibling relationship may be particularly important for disabled young people, given the social exclusion and discrimination that disabled people continue to face.
For some context, there are some problematic assumptions in the sibling disability research literature. First, there’s an assumption that it’s the disabled child who’s having an effect on their sibling. And second, there’s an assumption that this effect is somehow negative.
Our study looked to question some of these assumptions. Using data from about 500 sibling pairs aged between four and 15 years of age, we asked if and how the behaviours of sibling pairs were associated with their sibling relationships where one sibling had a learning disability.
We have found that both siblings positive and negative behaviours were associated with both positive and negative aspects of their sibling relationships. This finding is interesting as it provides support for rethinking some of these assumptions made about sibling relationships where one sibling has a learning disability.
The relationship between children and their autistic brothers and sisters
“Hello, my name is Louise Rixon, and I’m a PhD student at the University of Warwick in the Centre for Research into Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. I’m also a parent carer.
My research has explored the relationship between children and their autistic brothers and sisters. The piece of research used data from Wave 1 of 1,000 families study. 318 siblings were included and we used statistical analysis to group the autistic children into profiles using their intellectual disability, prosocial skills and adaptive skills as measurement.
We identified five groups and within these we found that the siblings of the autistic children with the highest behavioural problems had the highest reported conflict in their relationship. The siblings of the children with the most complex care needs had the lowest levels of conflict, but also the lowest behavioural problems. We also found that siblings of the autistic children with high communication and socialisation skills reported high levels of conflict.
My next piece of research will be looking at speaking to the siblings and getting their views in their own words”.
