Introduction:

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neuro-developmental disorder characterized by the presence of difficulties in social communication, social interaction and behavior, which is usually stereotyped and with restricted interests. The impact of the presence of a child with ASD in the siblings has different connotations and it has been found that these children have more positive than negative aspects.

Objective:

To identify the coping strategies used by siblings of children with ASD, and analyze their relation with externalized and internalized problems.

Results:

Participants were 23 children (15 boys and 8 girls) from 8 to 12 years old (average age: 9.8, D.E = 1.5). A socio-demographic index card for children was used in addition to the Children Coping Scale and the Questionnaire on Internalized and Externalized Problems for Children (EIA and CPIEN, by its acronyms in Spanish, respectively). The results indicate that the dysfunctional factor is very frequently used and that there are positive correlations between dysfunctional coping with externalized and internalized problems, and also between the factors focused on emotion and the avoidance with internalized problems.

Conclusions:

In this group of siblings of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, the significant correlation between disfunctional coping and externalized and internalized problems indicates the need of a deep assesment of possible behavioral and emotional problems, the need to learn how to respond in a functional way to daily life situations, as well as the need of an intervention to develop functional coping strategies.

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