Siblings' Influence on the Development of Individuals with Down Syndrome

This chapter discusses the influences that siblings may have on developmental outcomes of children with Down syndrome including those related to cognition, language, self-regulation, social-emotional functioning, and identity formation. As there is very little research available that addresses sibling influences on individuals with Down syndrome, the literature related to sibling influence within sibships comprising typically developing children has been used to provide a starting point to the discussion. The influential roles of siblings may include teacher; model and social referent; friend and foe; contrast; and advocate, protector, and caregiver. The quality of the sibling relationship may also influence developmental outcomes. The few investigations that have been conducted suggest that siblings make an important contribution to developmental outcomes for individuals with Down syndrome. In conclusion, directions for future research are discussed.