Skip to main content
Mijn bibliotheek
Ga naar:
Nieuws Boeken Tijdschriften Toetsvragen Web-tv Video Audio
Tips voor Mijn BSL
BSL Shop
Inloggen

Welkom bij Erasmus MC & Bohn Stafleu van Loghum

Erasmus MC heeft ervoor gezorgd dat je Mijn BSL eenvoudig en snel kunt raadplegen. Je kunt je links eenvoudig registreren. Met deze gegevens kun je thuis, of waar ook ter wereld toegang krijgen tot Mijn BSL.

» Andere revante producten voor Erasmus MC studenten en medewerkers.

Registreer

Om ook buiten de locaties van Erasmus MC, thuis bijvoorbeeld, van Mijn BSL gebruik te kunnen maken, moet je jezelf eenmalig registreren. Dit kan alleen vanaf een computer op een van de locaties van Erasmus MC.

Eenmaal geregistreerd kun je thuis of waar ook ter wereld onbeperkt toegang krijgen tot Mijn BSL.

Login

Als u al geregistreerd bent, hoeft u alleen maar in te loggen om onbeperkt toegang te krijgen tot Mijn BSL.

Inloggen
Top
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

30-10-2024 | Original Article

An Empirical Qualitative Investigation into Psychosexual Development in and Sex Education for Autistic Youth: Insights from Autistic and Non-Autistic Young Adults

Auteurs: Tasha T. W. Au Yeung, Marshall M. C. Hui, Karson T. F. Kung

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Log in om toegang te krijgen
share
DELEN

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

  • Optie A:
    Klik op de rechtermuisknop op de link en selecteer de optie “linkadres kopiëren”
  • Optie B:
    Deel de link per e-mail
    Link delen
publish
Publiceer nu

Abstract

The present study was designed to examine autistic and non-autistic young adults’ lived experience in psychosexual development and sex education and to solicit recommendations on how to improve sex education programs. Participants included 10 autistic young adults and 10 non-autistic young adults aged 18 to 24 years. The two groups were matched for sex and education level. One-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted. Participants’ responses were analyzed using comparative interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four superordinate themes emerged: (1) “Who am I as a sexual being”; (2) Making sense of psychosexual development; (3) Sources of information; and (4) “Dear developers of sex education programs”. Most autistic participants shared feelings of intense anxiety about romantic and sexual relationships, in part due to anticipated difficulties in social communication. Interestingly, although interview questions mostly focused on sex and adolescence, issues surrounding romantic relationships and their links to current self-concept were prominent themes in many autistic participants’ responses, suggesting that autism-friendly sex education programs need to address issues related to romance and should target not only adolescents but also young adults. Also, autistic participants learned from peer interactions within the autistic community, highlighting the importance of facilitating peer exchanges and continuous learning beyond completing a program. Regarding delivery format, autistic participants valued concreteness and a mixed-sex small-group setting, and recommended using visual cues, real life examples, and role play. Autistic individuals have unmet psychosexual educational needs. Further research may consider their needs, lived experience, and recommendations when developing new autism-friendly sex education programs.
Bijlagen
Alleen toegankelijk voor geautoriseerde gebruikers
Voetnoten
1
Due to space constraints, not all findings under the third superordinate theme can be reported in the main text. Findings under the subordinate theme titled ‘Role of Online Information’ are reported in online Supplementary Materials.
 
Literatuur
American Psychiatric Association (2013). Autism spectrum disorder. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).
Andres, E. B., Choi, E. P. H., Fung, A. W. C., Lau, K. W. C., Ng, N. H. T., Yeung, M., Johnston, J. M., & Ho, L. M. (2024). Comprehensive school-based sexuality education: Outcome evaluation results from Hong Kong. Sex Education, 24, 886–899.
Ballan, M. S. (2012). Parental perspectives of communication about sexuality in families of children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42, 676–684.PubMedCrossRef
Ballan, M. S., & Freyer, M. B. (2017). Autism spectrum disorder, adolescence, and sexuality education: Suggested interventions for mental health professionals. Sexuality and Disability, 35, 261–273.CrossRef
Barnett, J. P., & Maticka-Tyndale, E. (2015). Qualitative exploration of sexual experiences among adults on the autism spectrum: Implications for sex education. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 47, 171–179.PubMedCrossRef
Beato, A., & Correia, M. (2022). Love and intimate relationships in adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. [Conference presentation abstract]. International Psychological Applications Conference and Trends 2022, Madeira, Portugal.
Boislard, M. A., Van de Bongardt, D., & Blais, M. (2016). Sexuality (and lack thereof) in adolescence and early adulthood: A review of the literature. Behavioral Sciences, 6, 8.PubMedCrossRef
Bouchey, H. A. (2007). Perceived romantic competence, importance of romantic domains, and psychosocial adjustment. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 36, 503–514.PubMedCrossRef
Brown, M., & McCann, E. (2018). Sexuality issues and the voices of adults with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review of the literature. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 74, 124–138.PubMedCrossRef
Brown-Lavoie, S. M., Viecili, M. A., & Weiss, J. (2014). Sexual knowledge and victimization in adults with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44, 2185–2196.PubMedCrossRef
Cacciatore, R., Korteniemi-Poikela, E., & Kaltiala, R. (2019). The steps of sexuality - a developmental, emotion-focused, child-centered model of sexual development and sexuality education from birth to adulthood. International Journal of Sexual Health, 31, 319–338.CrossRef
Carcedo, R. J., Fernández-Rouco, N., Fernández-Fuertes, A. A., & Martínez-Álvarez, J. L. (2020). Association between sexual satisfaction and depression and anxiety in adolescents and young adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, 841.PubMedCrossRef
Clarke, V. (2010). Review of the book interpretative phenomenological analysis: Theory, Method and Research. Psychology Learning & Teaching, 9, 56–57.
Collins, W. A. (2003). More than myth: The developmental significance of romantic relationships during adolescence. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 13, 1–24.CrossRef
Davies, A. W., Balter, A. S., van Rhijn, T., Spracklin, J., Maich, K., & Soud, R. (2022). Sexuality education for children and youth with autism spectrum disorder in Canada. Intervention in School and Clinic, 58, 129–134.CrossRef
Dewinter, J., De Graaf, H., & Begeer, S. (2017). Sexual orientation, gender identity, and romantic relationships in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47, 2927–2934.PubMedCrossRef
Dugdale, A. S., Thompson, A. R., Leedham, A., Beail, N., & Freeth, M. (2021). Intense connection and love: The experiences of autistic mothers. Autism, 25, 1973–1984.PubMedCrossRef
Equal Opportunities Commission (2022). A study on comprehensive sexuality education in secondary school of Hong Kong.
Fallis, E. E., Gordon, C., & Purdon, C. (2013). Sexual anxiety scale. In T. D. Fisher, C. M. Davis, & W. L. Yarber (Eds.), Handbook of sexuality-related measures (pp. 250–260). Routledge.
Family Planning Association of Hong Kong (2017). Report on Youth Sexuality Study 2016.
Frank, K., & Sandman, L. (2019). Supporting parents as sexuality educators for individuals with intellectual disability: The development of the Home BASE Curriculum. Sexuality and Disability, 37, 329–337.CrossRef
Furman, W., Ho, M. J., & Low, S. M. (2007). The rocky road of adolescent romantic experience: Dating and adjustment. In R. C. M. E. Engels, M. Kerr, H. & Stattin (Eds), Friends, lovers and groups: Key relationships in adolescence (pp. 61–80). John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Griffin-Shelley, E. (2010). An Asperger’s adolescent sex addict, sex offender: A case study. Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity, 17, 46–64.CrossRef
Grover, R. L., & Nangle, D. W. (2007). Introduction to the special section on adolescent romantic competence: Development and adjustment implications. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 36, 485–490.PubMedCrossRef
Hancock, G. I., Stokes, M. A., & Mesibov, G. B. (2017). Socio-sexual functioning in autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta‐analyses of existing literature. Autism Research, 10, 1823–1833.PubMedCrossRef
Hancock, G. I., Stokes, M. A., & Mesibov, G. B. (2020). Differences in romantic relationship experiences for individuals with an autism spectrum disorder. Sexuality and Disability, 38, 231–245.CrossRef
Hannah, L. A., & Stagg, S. D. (2016). Experiences of sex education and sexual awareness in young adults with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46, 3678–3687.PubMedCrossRef
Holmes, L. G., Strassberg, D. S., & Himle, M. B. (2019). Family sexuality communication for adolescent girls on the autism spectrum. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49, 2403–2416.PubMedCrossRef
Howard, K., Katsos, N., & Gibson, J. (2019). Using interpretative phenomenological analysis in autism research. Autism, 23, 1871–1876.PubMedCrossRef
Kalyva, E. (2010). Teachers’ perspectives of the sexuality of children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 4, 433–437.CrossRef
Kansky, J., & Allen, J. P. (2018). Long-term risks and possible benefits associated with late adolescent romantic relationship quality. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 47, 1531–1544.PubMedCrossRef
Kenny, M. C., Crocco, C., & Long, H. (2021). Parents’ plans to communicate about sexuality and child sexual abuse with their children with autism spectrum disorder. Sexuality and Disability, 39, 357–375.CrossRef
La France, B. H. (2010). Predicting sexual satisfaction in interpersonal relationships. Southern Communication Journal, 75, 195–214.CrossRef
Lamb, D., & Cogan, N. (2016). Coping with work-related stressors and building resilience in mental health workers: A comparative focus group study using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 89, 474–492.CrossRef
Lantagne, A., & Furman, W. (2017). Romantic relationship development: The interplay between age and relationship length. Developmental Psychology, 53, 1738–1749.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
Larkin, M., Watts, S., & Clifton, E. (2006). Giving voice and making sense in interpretative phenomenological analysis. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3, 102–120.CrossRef
Leung, H., & Lin, L. (2019). Adolescent sexual risk behavior in Hong Kong: Prevalence, protective factors, and sex education programs. Journal of Adolescent Health, 64, 52.CrossRef
Leung, H., Shek, D. T., Leung, E., & Shek, E. Y. (2019). Development of contextually-relevant sexuality education: Lessons from a comprehensive review of adolescent sexuality education across cultures. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16, 621.PubMedCrossRef
Leung Ling, M. T., & Chen, H. F. (2017). Hong Kong’s parents’ views on sex, marriage, and homosexuality. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26, 1573–1582.CrossRef
Mackin, M. L., Loew, N., Gonzalez, A., Tykol, H., & Christensen, T. (2016). Parent perceptions of sexual education needs for their children with autism. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 31, 608–618.CrossRef
Madsen, S. D., & Collins, W. A. (2011). The salience of adolescent romantic experiences for romantic relationship qualities in young adulthood. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21, 789–801.CrossRef
Mehzabin, P., & Stokes, M. A. (2011). Self-assessed sexuality in young adults with high-functioning autism. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5, 614–621.CrossRef
Meier, A., & Allen, G. (2009). Romantic relationships from adolescence to young adulthood: Evidence from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The Sociological Quarterly, 50, 308–335.PubMedCrossRef
Moshman, D. (2014). Sexuality Development in Adolescence and Beyond: Commentary on Arbeit. Human Development, 57, 287–291.CrossRef
Nizza, I. E., Farr, J., & Smith, J. A. (2021). Achieving excellence in interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA): Four markers of high quality. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 18, 369–386.CrossRef
Odaci, H., & Kalkan, M. (2010). Problematic internet use, loneliness and dating anxiety among young adult university students. Computers & Education, 55, 1091–1097.CrossRef
Pietkiewicz, I., & Smith, J. A. (2014). A practical guide to using interpretative phenomenological analysis in qualitative research psychology. Psychological Journal, 20, 7–14.
Pugliese, C. E., Ratto, A. B., Granader, Y., Dudley, K. M., Bowen, A., Baker, C., & Anthony, L. G. (2020). Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a parent-mediated sexual education curriculum for youth with autism spectrum disorders. Autism, 24, 64–79.PubMedCrossRef
Ragaglia, B., Caputi, M., & Bulgarelli, D. (2023). Psychosexual education interventions for autistic youth and adults - a systematic review. Education Sciences, 13, 224.CrossRef
Rocha, J., Aladin, S., & Crehan, E. (2023). A model of Psychosexual Wellbeing for autistic and neurotypical adults in the United States. Sexuality and Disability, 41, 3–16.CrossRef
Romeo, K. E., & Kelley, M. A. (2009). Incorporating human sexuality content into a positive youth development framework: Implications for community prevention. Children and Youth Services Review, 31, 1001–1009.CrossRef
Seifen, T., Shaw, C. M., Smith, C. V., & Johnson, L. R. (2022). The more you know: Sexual knowledge as a predictor of sexual well-being. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 48, 779–788.CrossRef
Smith, J. A., & Osborn, M. (2008). Interpretative phenomenological analysis. In J. A. Smith (Ed.), Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods (pp. 53–81). Sage.
Smith, J. A., Flowers, P., & Larkin, M. (2009). Interpretative phenomenological analysis: Theory, method and research. Sage.
Stokes, M., Newton, N., & Kaur, A. (2007). Stalking, and social and romantic functioning among adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37, 1969–1986.PubMedCrossRef
Sullivan, A., & Caterino, L. C. (2008). Addressing the sexuality and sex education of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Education and Treatment of Children, 31, 381–394.CrossRef
Tolman, D. L., & McClelland, S. I. (2011). Normative sexuality development in adolescence: A decade in review, 2000–2009. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21, 242–255.CrossRef
Tullis, C. A., & Zangrillo, A. N. (2013). Sexuality education for adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders. Psychology in the Schools, 50, 866–875.CrossRef
Underhill, J. C., Clark, J., Hansen, R. S., & Adams, H. (in press). Exploring Autistic College Students’ perceptions and management of peer stigma: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
Veldmeijer, L., Terlouw, G., Van Os, J., Van Dijk, O., Van’t Veer, J., & Boonstra, N. (2023). The involvement of service users and people with lived experience in mental health care innovation through design: Systematic review. JMIR Mental Health, 10, e46590.PubMedCrossRef
Visser, K., Greaves-Lord, K., Tick, N. T., Verhulst, F. C., Maras, A., & van der Vegt, E. J. (2017). A randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of the tackling teenage psychosexual training program for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 58, 840–850.PubMedCrossRef
Yip, P. S., Zhang, H., Lam, T. H., Lam, K. F., Lee, A. M., Chan, J., & Fan, S. (2013). Sex knowledge, attitudes, and high-risk sexual behaviors among unmarried youth in Hong Kong. Bmc Public Health, 13, 691.PubMedCrossRef
Zakai-Mashiach, M. (2023). I was like a bird without wings: Autistic women’s retrospective experiences in general schools. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53, 4258–4270.PubMedCrossRef
Zhang, L., Li, X., Shah, I. H., Baldwin, W., & Stanton, B. (2007). Parent–adolescent sex communication in China. The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care, 12, 138–147.CrossRef
Metagegevens
Titel
An Empirical Qualitative Investigation into Psychosexual Development in and Sex Education for Autistic Youth: Insights from Autistic and Non-Autistic Young Adults
Auteurs
Tasha T. W. Au Yeung
Marshall M. C. Hui
Karson T. F. Kung
Publicatiedatum
30-10-2024
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06622-w