Test and projective methods of psychological diagnosis of peculiarities of the family relationships system of healthy siblings in families with children with autism spectrum disorders

The article is devoted to the problem of complex psychological diagnosis of peculiarities of the family relations system in families with children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The purpose of the research was to study characteristics of relationship of examined siblings to their family members and to identify the characteristics of their perception of their family as a whole, as well as to compare personal characteristics of healthy siblings that have sibs with ASD and siblings that have only healthy siblings. The study involved 31 healthy siblings, having a brother (sister) with the ASD and their 57 parents. The age of healthy children and adolescents ranged from 6 to 17 years, with an average age of 11.6 years. The age of siblings with ASD is from 5 to 17 years, the average age is 8.7 years. The average parents’ age is 40 years. The control group consisted of 30 families, raising only healthy children, and involving 30 siblings and 56 parents. The comparison groups were homogenized according to parameters such as gender and age of examined sibling, gender and age of parents, family composition. In terms of the severity of the disease of children with ASD, two subgroups were identified by doctors: 81 % of children with severe autism and 19 % with moderate autism. In combination with quantitative methods we used a set of projective techniques. High anxiety, self-doubt, high frustration, caution, low level of sociability, low level of intellectual productivity of healthy siblings from families with children with ASD are established. We found problems in the sphere of communication and social relations at healthy siblings as well as the isolation of the family and conflict relations in it as a whole. Identification mismatch with the father and a higher degree of his emotional rejection in healthy siblings having siblings with ASD were revealed. It was shown effectiveness and high significance of use the methodical complex, including projective methods. The obtained data allow determine targets for psycho-corrective work with families with children with ASD.