Using Population Data to Explore Sibling Profiles in Families of Children With and Without Neurodevelopmental Conditions

Bibliographic Data

ID21619861
AuthorsCaitlin Gray (0000-0003-2255-981X, BPsych, MPH, PhD, postdoctoral researcher, The Kids Research Institute of Australia; The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, corresponding author), Helen Leonard (0000-0001-6405-5834, MBChB, MPH, professor, The Kids Research Institute Australia; The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia), Kingsley Wong (0000-0001-5178-6080, MBBS, MPH, MMedStat, research officer, The Kids Research Institute Australia, Perth, Australia), Jenny Bourke (0000-0002-1582-805X, BE, MPH, research officer, The Kids Research Institute Australia, Perth, Australia), Emma J Glasson (0000-0001-5547-8595, BPsych, BSc (Hons), PhD, senior research fellow, The Kids Research Institute Australia; The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia)
Year2026
Publication date2026-05-21
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFamilies in Society The Journal of Contemporary Social Services (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1044-3894 • E-ISSN: 1945-1350
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/10443894261434643
OpenAlexW7162073390
LanguageEN
References cited88

Sibling profiles, including sibling status (only-child or sibling) and sibling characteristics (sibling size, birth order, and sex), can impact on lived experiences and social interactions, and operate as protective or risk factors for a wide range of health and well-being indicators and outcomes. Using population-based data linkage to disability-specific databases, sibling profiles were compared between families of children with and without neurodevelopmental conditions. Families of children with neurodevelopmental conditions were more likely to contain siblings than only-children, and be larger families, with children more likely to have shorter gestational age, lower birthweight, younger mothers, and lower socioeconomic status than other children. The context of unique sibling experiences may be important for understanding how sibling well-being may be influenced by different family circumstances

Population · Sibling · Sibling relationship · Socioeconomic status · Cognitive Abilities and Testing · Family and Disability Support Research · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access