In one study (Boyd, 2002), the relationship between stress and social support was examined. It measured the support available, what caused mothers to seek support, and the effects of the support. Results showed that mothers were likely to feel significantly stressed with the potential for long-term care of children who have more severe cognitive limitations. Mothers were also likely to feel significant levels of stress if their autistic children had severe behavioral problems. The stress in these situations can actually be higher because the families often find themselves publicly embarrassed. Both situations can cause the mother to seek support. The support does not always ease the stress, but when it is not available, the result is often higher levels of stress and depression. One form of support that has been found helpful is training for early intervention in sibling relationships. (Danko & Strain 1995) This can help children with autism better interact with their siblings which will in turn alleviate some overall familial stress. The study that Danko and Strain (1995) performed followed the progress of three young boys with autism or pervasive developmental disorder. The parents were trained in how to initiate interaction and were then told to sit back, observe, and occasionally encourage the boys and their siblings. It was done in the comfort of their homes, and all three boys made tremendous leaps in their interactive playing abilities. They took part in cognitive play, gross motor play, and fine motor play in 6-minute sessions until they reached approximately 40 sessions. This study was the first to focus on sibling interaction. Its methods closely reflected the methods used in schools, and the outcomes mirrored the outcomes from school as well. .
Sometimes, no matter what the interaction between siblings actually is, it has a measurable effect on the non-autistic siblings.