Family and Fraternal Relationships: Conceptions of Mothers, Siblings and Adolescents with Autism

Abstract

Abstract: This descriptive and exploratory study aimed to analyze the conceptions of mothers, siblings and adolescents with autism based on the family aspect, the maternal experience and the fraternal relationships. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 12 mothers (between 33 and 50 years old), 15 siblings with typical development (between four and 16 years old) and two adolescents with autism (aged 11 and 13 years old). The results were analyzed using content analysis, and the conceptions of process, person, context and time of the bioecological model were considered. The participants showed similar family conceptions. The mothers expressed the need to distinguish between typical and atypical motherhood. The siblings characterized their relationship experience as good, although those with autism prefer to play alone. It is expected to contribute to the implementation of interventions and public policies that consider the entire family and not just the person with autism.

Keywords

• autistim spectrum disorder
• family relationships
• siblings
• motherhood
• adolescents