A Model of Psychosexual Wellbeing for Autistic and Neurotypical Adults in the United States.

NETHERLANDS; UNITED States

The sexuality of autistic adults has historically been overlooked. A positive framework for understanding sexuality of autistic adults is critical for designing sexuality and relationship education programming to support best outcomes. This study used an online survey of US-based adults with and without autism to develop a model of psychosexual wellbeing. Three factors (Sexual Knowledge, Sexual Feelings and Attitudes, and Sexual Self-Concept) comprise this model. Comparisons of the different factors relative to diagnostic status were made using t-tests. Overall psychosexual well-being was lower for the autistic group compared to the neurotypical group. The sexual self-concept factor was significantly lower from autistic participants, as hypothesized. The correlation between sexual self-concept and sexual knowledge was significant for neurotypical participants but not significant for autistic participants. Differences by group highlight the need for tailored sexuality and relationship education programming for autistic individuals. Further, there is a need to study the developmental processes of identity and self-concept formation for autistic individuals, given how this concept is intertwined with sexual development and psychosexual wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]