Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) significantly affects not only the diagnosed individual but also the broader family system, particularly siblings. While ample research explores the experiences of parents, the perspectives of neurotypical siblings remain understudied, especially in the Philippine context. This study aimed to explore and understand the lived experiences and family dynamics of neurotypical siblings of persons with ASD through the lens of Bowen’s Family Systems Theory. Grounded in Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the study examined how these siblings make sense of their emotional and relational experiences. Eight (8) neurotypical siblings aged 18–31 from urban middle-class Filipino families were selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Data were gathered using semi-structured in-depth interviews, conducted either face-to-face or online, and analyzed idiographically to uncover shared meanings across cases. Findings revealed three master themes: (1) Living in the Gray: Emotional Turmoil, Silent Struggles, and Grief for the Future, (2) Second in Line: Emotional Strain of Growing and Living Alongside a Sibling with Autism, and (3) Strength in the Soft Places: Cultivating Resilience, Connection, and Growth in ASD Families. These themes reflect a complex emotional landscape marked by guilt, anticipatory grief, resilience, and the redefinition of familial roles. The study underscores the importance of developing culturally sensitive, sibling-focused mental health support programs in the Philippines. A proposed intervention—KAPATID Cares: A Mental Health and Well-Being Program for Siblings of Persons with ASD, is presented as a response to these findings.
