Academic Scientific JournalsSexual experiences of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder – own research
Keywords:
adolescents, ASD, psychosexual developmentAbstract
The analysis of available studies and clinical observations leads to the contemplation of what a challenge satisfying functioning in the sexual sphere is for adolescents with a spectrum of autistic disorders. This study compared follow-up data related to lifetime sexual experience in a group of adolescent boys with ASD (n=9), aged 16–19, with a matched group of boys in the general population (n = 20). Most boys in the ASD and control groups reported masturbation. The proportion of boys with ASD that had no partnered sexual experience was larger than in the control group. This difference was mostly explained by significantly fewer boys with ASD, compared with controls, who reported experience with kissing with girls and petting; no significant differences emerged relating to more intimate partnered sexual experiences. The results suggest the existence of a subgroup of boys who have not (yet) entered the arena of partnered sexual experiencesa finding in line with research in adult samples. The hypothesised sexual developmental trajectories are subject to further research, but the sexual experience in this sample and the assumed developmental differences indicate the need for sexuality-related education and communication.
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