Honors Theses and Capstones
Date of Award
Spring 2016
Project Type
Senior Honors Thesis
College or School
CHHS
Department
Occupational Therapy
Program or Major
Occupational Therapy
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Abstract
As the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) continues to increase, research efforts have begun to focus on the effects a person with ASD has on family life. The dominant voice in the extant literature is that of parents and caregivers, but only a small body of research explores the experiences of siblings. Using a phenomenological approach, a qualitative study was conducted to understand how a typically developing (TD) adolescent experiences the effects of having siblings with ASD on family routines and activities. Findings indicate that the family’s performance context—including routines, relationships, and activities—acts as the mediator of the bidirectional relationship between the siblings with ASD’s person factors and the TD adolescent's identity. These findings support the use of a family-centered approach in occupational therapy when working with individuals with ASD and tailoring interventions to support the needs of all.
Recommended Citation
Brand, Samantha L., "Through My Eyes: The Effect on Family Life of Having Siblings with Autism Spectrum Disorder as Experienced by a Typically Developing Adolescent" (2016). Honors Theses and Capstones. 354.
https://scholars.unh.edu/honors/354