Sibling Involvement in Family-Centered Autism Interventions: A Systematic Review Publisher



Naderi Malek A ; Prelock P A ; Irani G ; Gholamzadeh F ; Shademani Y
Source: Research in Autism Published:2026

Abstract

Background: Siblings may be important social partners for autistic individuals and may also participate directly in intervention. This systematic review synthesized evidence on structured sibling involvement in autism intervention, including outcomes for autistic individuals, siblings, sibling dyads, and families, as well as formative evidence informing sibling-inclusive interventions. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, five databases were searched for peer-reviewed studies published from January 2000 through January 2025. The database search yielded 2626 unique records. A supplementary citation check was conducted to verify coverage of eligible intervention studies, and 34 unique studies met the intervention-focused eligibility criteria and were included in the final narrative synthesis. Eligible studies involved siblings in an identifiable intervention role or explicitly informed the development of a sibling-inclusive intervention. Results: Thirty-two studies evaluated structured sibling involvement and two were formative intervention-development studies. Most intervention evidence came from single-case or other small-N designs. The most consistent changes involved proximal intervention targets, particularly social communication, engagement, play, and specific skill acquisition. Siblings frequently learned and implemented intervention strategies, but their own stress, adjustment, relationship experience, and longer-term well-being were rarely assessed. Findings were not uniformly positive, and evidence remained limited regarding broader family outcomes, maintenance and generalization, and developmental, relational, cultural, or socioeconomic influences. Conclusions: Structured sibling involvement may be useful within family-centered autism intervention when roles are clearly defined, voluntary, developmentally appropriate, and matched to individual and family needs. Current evidence does not establish that sibling involvement itself consistently provides additional benefit or support age-, gender-, or context-based recommendations. Stronger comparative studies examining outcomes for autistic individuals, siblings, dyads, and families over time are needed. © 2026