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Socio-sexual functioning in autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analyses of existing literature
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posted on 2017-11-01, 00:00 authored by Grace Hancock, Mark StokesMark Stokes, G B MesibovSocio-sexual functioning encompasses an individual's interests, behaviors, and knowledge with respect to sexual, romantic, and social aspects of life. An individual's understanding of these domains is developed through a range of informal and formal avenues of sexual health education. The current model demonstrated this and proposed that, compared to typically developing individuals, those with ASD develop socio-sexual functioning differently due to having less peer engagement, less relationship experience, more parental guidance, greater use of online materials, receive less school-based sexual health education, and more support from wellbeing services. Systematic review and meta-analysis of existing literature revealed that individuals with ASD have greater difficultly adhering to privacy norms, engage in less social behavior, are described as engaging in less appropriate sexual behavior, have greater concerns about themselves, and receive less sexual health education. Having fewer opportunities for appropriate informal and formal sexual health education leaves them at a double disadvantage from others who are receiving this information from both of these avenues. Some of the current meta-analytic results are cautioned by large l-square statistics which suggest that a degree of variance is being caused by extraneous factors. Further empirical research in this area is needed to overcome current design and sample limitations. Finally, the Sexual Behavior Scale was the most commonly utilized tool in the meta-analyzed studies, thus comprehensive evaluation of its functioning is warranted. The importance of work in this area is highlighted by the central role of social and sexual wellbeing on one's quality of life. Autism Res 2017, 10: 1823-1833. LAY SUMMARY: Review of existing literature revealed that individuals with ASD have greater difficultly adhering to privacy norms, engage in less social behavior, are described as engaging in less appropriate sexual behavior, have greater concerns about themselves, and receive less sexual health education. Having fewer opportunities for appropriate informal and formal sexual health education leaves them at a double disadvantage from others who are receiving this information from both of these avenues.
History
Journal
Autism researchVolume
10Issue
11Pagination
1823 - 1833Publisher
John Wiley & SonsLocation
Chichester, Eng.Publisher DOI
ISSN
1939-3792eISSN
1939-3806Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal; C Journal articleCopyright notice
2017, International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Usage metrics
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Asperger'sautismprivacy normsrelationshipssexual behaviorsexual health educationsexual knowledgesocio-sexual functioningScience & TechnologySocial SciencesLife Sciences & BiomedicineBehavioral SciencesPsychology, DevelopmentalPsychologyYOUNG-ADULTSSEXUALITYADOLESCENTSBEHAVIORSINDIVIDUALSKNOWLEDGEEDUCATION
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