Snapshots reflecting the lives of siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders.
BACKGROUND
Past research focused on the effects of raising a child with autism spectrum disorder on families. However, most research examined parents' perspectives rather than siblings' perspectives. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative descriptive design was to use photo elicitation to capture perspectives of siblings living with a child with autism spectrum disorder.


METHODS
Fourteen siblings (nine male) of 13 children with autism spectrum disorder received disposable cameras with 24-27 colour exposures, and were asked to photograph what was important to them within 2 weeks. After developing snapshots, investigators interviewed siblings about their photographs, and used open, axial and selective coding to determine photograph categories and subcategories.


RESULTS
Two major categories were found: people (family members, non-family members) and non-people (personal items/objects, animals, buildings, scenery). Interviews about photographs reflected experiences siblings had with people/non-people in the snapshots and their normal everyday activities. Most photographs revealed family life and activities any sibling would experience whether or not they lived in a family raising a child with autism spectrum disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
Photo elicitation facilitates communication between children and health-care professionals, and provides information about living with a child with autism spectrum disorder from the sibling's perspective. This information contributes to our knowledge base and allows development of specific intervention plans for siblings of these children.
['Latta|A|A|', 'Rampton|T|T|', 'Rosemann|J|J|', 'Peterson|M|M|', 'Mandleco|B|B|', 'Dyches|T|T|', 'Roper|S|S|']
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological D000293:Adolescent D000367:Age Factors D001294:Attitude to Health D002648:Child D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive D003142:Communication D005192:Family Health D005195:Family Relations D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D010781:Photography D036301:Qualitative Research D012107:Research Design D012801:Sibling Relations D035781:Siblings D013315:Stress, Psychological D013561:Symbolism
siblings autism spectrum disorder qualitative