Abstract
Romantic relationships and sexual behaviors among individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are complicated matters and involve many personal issues including emotions, values, attitudes, and beliefs—all of which can change constantly in response to interactions, experiences, and education (Sexuality and Disability 18:125–135, 2000). Further, other issues, such as living conditions (e.g., independent vs. residential), extent of symptom severity, and level of communication and socialization may also play a role in relationships and sexuality (Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders 5:614–621, 2011). In regard to education and general knowledge, sex education materials and instruction for individuals with autism differ greatly from those provided for typically developing students, with individuals with disabilities receiving far lower levels of support in this area. While almost all parents of individuals with disabilities favor comprehensive sex education for their adolescent/adult children, very few individuals with disabilities receive any type of formal sex education (Sexuality and Disability, 18:125–135, 2000), and furthermore, most teachers do not feel confident in their ability to provide sex education to students with ASD (Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders 4(3):433–437, 2010). Logically, then, without education and the communicative skills to gain social support from and interact with peers, individuals with ASD may have more difficulties with relationships and sexuality. The literature also suggests that they demonstrate more challenges with a wide variety of sexuality-related issues, including their bodily changes during puberty, privacy rules and customs, and masturbation. Further, adolescents and adults with ASD have far fewer sexual experiences than their typically developing peers, despite their expressed sexual interest (Sexuality and Disability 28:93–104, 2010). Despite these issues and concerns, there is a paucity of research, literature, and education relating to romance and sexuality in individuals with ASDs, and while the desire for intimate and sexual relationships may be similar to individuals without ASDs, attitudes and practice in this population appear to differ. This chapter will discuss issues related to romance and sexuality in individuals with ASDs.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-IV-TR. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
Ammerman, R., Hersen, M., & Lubetsky, M. (1988). Assessment and treatment of abuse and neglect in multi-handicapped children and adolescents. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 11(3), 313–314.
Bauminger, N., & Kasari, C. (2000). Loneliness and friendship in high-functioning children with autism. Child Development, 71(2), 447–456.
Berney, T. (2004). Asperger syndrome from childhood into adulthood. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 10, 341–351.
Browne, A. (1993). Violence against women by male partners: Prevalence, outcomes, and policy implications. American Psychologist, 48(10), 1077–1087.
Clark, C. L., Shaver, P. R., & Abrahams, M. F. (1999). Strategic behaviors in romantic relationship initiation. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 25(6), 706–722.
Curry, K., Posluszny, M., & Kraska, S. (1993). Training criminal justice personnel to recognize offenders with disabilities. Washington, DC: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services News.
DeMyer, M. K. (1979). Parents and children with autism. New York: Wiley.
Dewey, M. A., & Everard, M. P. (1974). The near-normal autistic adolescent. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 4(4), 348–356.
Emmers, T. M., & Dindia, K. (1995). The effect of relational stage and intimacy on touch: An extension of Guerrero and Andersen. Personal Relationships, 2(3), 225–236.
Frea, W. D. (1995). Social-communicative skills in higher functioning children with autism. In R. L. Koegel & L. K. Koegel (Eds.), Teaching children with autism: Strategies for initiating positive interactions and improving learning opportunities (pp. 53–66). Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing, Xi, 236pp.
Frieze, I. H., Hymer, S., & Greenberg, M. S. (1987). Describing the crime victim: Psychological reactions to victimization. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 18(4), 299–315. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.18.4.299.
Gabriels, R. L., & Van Bourgondien, M. E. (2007). Sexuality and autism: Individual, family, and community perspectives and interventions. In R. L. Gabriels & D. E. Hill (Eds.), Growing up with autism: Working with school-age children and adolescents (pp. 58–72). New York: Guilford Press, xviii, 302pp.
Gillberg, C., & Coleman, M. (1992). The biology of the autistic syndromes. Clinics in developmental medicine, No. 126 (2nd ed.). London, England: Mac Keith Press, viii, 317pp.
Gilmour, L., Schalomon, P. M., & Smith, V. (2012). Sexuality in a community based sample of adults with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 6(1), 313–318.
Goodman, L. A., Koss, M. P., Fitzgerald, L. F., Russo, N. F., & Keita, G. P. (1993). Male violence against women: Current research and future directions. American Psychologist, 48(10), 1054–1058. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.48.10.1054.
Hall, A. V., Godwin, M., Wright, H. H., & Abramson, R. K. (2007). Criminal justice issues and autistic disorder. In R. L. Gabriels & D. E. Hill (Eds.), Growing up with autism: Working with school age children and adolescents (pp. 272–292). New York: Guilford Press, Xvii, 302pp.
Hellemans, H., Colson, K., Verbraeken, C., Vermeiren, R., & Deboutte, D. (2006). Sexual behavior in high-functioning male adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37, 260–269.
Hellemans, H., Roeyers, H., Leplae, W., Dewaele, T., & Deboutte, D. (2010). Sexual behaviors in male adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder and borderline/mild mental retardation. Sexuality and Disability, 28(2), 93–104.
Holmes, D. L. (1998). Autism through the lifespan: The Eden model. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.
Howlin, P. (2000). Outcome in adult life for more able individuals with autism or Asperger syndrome. Autism, 4(1), 63–83.
Howlin, P., & Clements, J. (1995). Is it possible to assess the impact of abuse on children with pervasive developmental disorders? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 25(4), 337–354.
Hughes, R. B., Robinson-Whelen, S., Pepper, A. C., Gabrielli, J., Lund, E. M., Legerski, J., et al. (2010). Development of a safety awareness group intervention for women with diverse disabilities: A pilot study. Rehabilitation Psychology, 55(3), 263–271. doi:10.1037/a0019916.
Humphrey, N., & Lewis, S. (2008). Make me normal: The views and experiences of pupils on the autistic spectrum in mainstream secondary schools. Autism, 12(1), 23–46.
Jennes-Coussens, M., Magill-Evans, J., & Koning, C. (2006). The quality of life of young men with Asperger syndrome: A brief report. Autism, 10(4), 403–414.
Jobe, L. E., & White, S. W. (2007). Loneliness, social relationships, and a broader autism phenotype in college students. Personality and Individual Differences, 42(8), 1479–1489.
Jones, R. S., & Meldal, T. O. (2001). Social relationships and Asperger’s syndrome. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 5, 135–141.
Kalyva, E. (2010). Teachers’ perspectives of the sexuality of children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 4(3), 433–437.
Kaufman, M., Silverberg, C., & Odette, F. (2005). The ultimate guide to sex and disability. Minneapolis, MN: Cleis Press.
Koegel, L. K., Fredeen, R. M., Koegel, R. L., & Lin, E. (2012). Relationships, independence, and communication in autism and Asperger’s disorder. In D. Amaral, G. Dawson, & D. Geschwind (Eds.), Autism spectrum disorders. New York: Oxford University Press.
Koegel, L. K., Ashbaugh, K., Koegel, R. L., Detar, W. J., & Regester, A. (2013). Increasing socialization in adults with asperger’s syndrome. Psychology in the Schools, 50(9), 899–909.
Koegel, L. K., & LaZebnik, C. (2009). Growing up on the spectrum: A guide to life, love, and learning for teens and young adults with autism and Asperger’s. New York: Viking Penguin.
Kohler, P. K., Manhart, L. E., & Lafferty, W. E. (2008). Abstinence-only and comprehensive sex education and the initiation of sexual activity and teen pregnancy. Journal of Adolescent Health, 42, 344–351.
Koller, R. (2000). Sexuality and adolescents with autism. Disability, 18(2), 125–135.
Koss, M. P. (1993). Rape: Scope, impact, intervention and public policy response. American Psychologist, 48, 1062–1069.
Lord, C., & McGee, W. (2001). Educating children with autism. Committee on Educational Interventions for Children with Autism. Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
Losh, M., & Capps, L. (2006). Understanding of emotional experience in autism: Insights from the personal accounts of high-functioning children with autism. Developmental Psychology, 42(5), 809–818. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.42.5.809.
Mansell, S., Sobsey, D., & Calder, P. (1992). Sexual abuse treatment for persons with developmental disabilities. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 23(5), 404–409. doi:10.1037/07357028.23.5.404.
McDaniel, A. K. (2005). Young women’s dating behavior: Why/why not date a nice guy? Sex Roles, 53(5–6), 347–359.
McHale, S. M., Dariotis, J. K., & Kauh, T. J. (2003). Social development and social relationships in middle childhood. In R. M. Lerner, A. M. Easterbrooks, & J. Mistry (Eds.), Handbook of psychology: Developmental psychology (Vol. 6, pp. 241–265). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, xxi, 666pp.
Mehzabin, P., & Stokes, M. A. (2011). Self-assessed sexuality in young adults with high-functioning autism. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5(1), 614–621.
Mesibov, G. B., Shea, V., & Adams, L. W. (2001). Understanding Asperger syndrome and high functioning autism. Dordrecht: Springer.
Mongeau, P. S., Jacobsen, J., & Donnerstein, C. (2007). Defining dates and first date goals: Generalizing from undergraduates to single adults. Communication Research, 34(5), 526–547.
Mongeau, P. A., Serewicz, M. C. M., & Therrien, L. F. (2004). Goals for cross-sex first dates: Identification, measurement, and the influence of contextual factors. Communication Monographs, 71(2), 121–147.
National Research Council. (2001). Crime victims with developmental disabilities. Report of a workshop. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
Newman, S., & Ghaziudin, M. (2008). Violent crime in Asperger syndrome: The role of psychiatric comorbidity. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(10), 1848–1852.
Nichols, S., & Byers, S. (2008). Sexual well-being of high-functioning adults with autism spectrum disorders. Poster presented at the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), May 16, 2008.
Norwich, B., & Kely, N. (2004). Pupils’ views on inclusion: Moderate learning difficulties and bullying in mainstream and special schools. British Educational Research Journal, 30, 43–65.
Robinson-Whelen, S., Hughes, R. B., Powers, L. E., Oschwald, M., Renker, P., Swank, P. R., et al. (2010). Efficacy of a computerized abuse and safety assessment intervention for women with disabilities: A randomized controlled trial. Rehabilitation Psychology, 55(2), 97–107. doi:10.1037/a0019422.
Roscoe, B., Diana, M. S., & Brooks, R. H. (1987). Early, middle, and late adolescents’ views on dating and factors influencing partner selection. Adolescence, 22(85), 59–68.
Roth, M., & Nichols, S. (2008). Relationships 101: A guide to growing up for high functioning adolescent males with autism spectrum disorders. Poster presented at the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), May 17, 2008.
Ruble, L., & Dalrymple, N. (1993). Social/sexual awareness of persons with autism: A parental perspective. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 22, 229–240.
Schopler, E. (1997). Implementation of TEACCH philosophy. In D. J. Cohen & F. R. Volkmar (Eds.), Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders. New York: Wiley.
Sequeira, H., & Hollins, S. (2003). Clinical effects of sexual abuse on people with learning disability: Critical literature review. British Journal of Psychiatry, 182, 13–19.
Sequeira, H., Howlin, P., & Hollins, S. (2003). Psychological disturbance associated with sexual abuse in people with learning disabilities. Case-control study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 183, 451–456.
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. Position statements. Retrieved May 16, 2009, from http://www.siecus.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewPage&PageID=494&varuniqueuserid=97194156251
Shea, V., & Mesibov, G. B. (2005). Adolescents and adults with autism. In F. R. Volkmar, R. Paul, A. Klin, & D. Cohen (Eds.), Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders, Vol. 1: Diagnosis, development, neurobiology, and behavior (3rd ed., pp. 288–311). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Sobsey, D., & Doe, T. (1991). Patterns of sexual abuse and assault. Sexuality and Disability, 9, 243–259.
Stewart, M. E., Barnard, L., Pearson, J., Hasan, R., & O’Brien, G. (2006). Presentation of depression in autism and Asperger syndrome: A review. Autism, 10(1), 103–116.
Stokes, M. A., & Kaur, A. (2005). High-functioning autism and sexuality: A parental perspective. Autism, 9(3), 266–289.
Strain, P. S., & Schwartz, I. (2001). ABA and the development of meaningful social relations for young children with autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 16(2), 120–128.
Sullivan, A., & Caterino, L. C. (2008). Addressing the sexuality and sex education of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Education and Treatment of Children, 31(3), 381–394.
Szatmari, P., Bartolucci, G., Bremner, R., Bond, S., & Rich, S. (1989). A follow-up study of high-functioning children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 19(2), 213–225.
Tantam, D. (2000). Psychological disorder in adolescents and adults with Asperger syndrome. Autism, 4(1), 47–62.
Tetenbaum, S. P., Nichols, S., Blakeley-Smith, A., Hepburn, S., & Reaven, J. A. (2008). Sexuality, puberty, and growing up…Evaluating the effectiveness of a group psycho-education curriculum for parents of youth with ASDs. Poster presented at the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), May 15, 2008.
Tissot, C. (2009). Difficulties establishing a sexual identity: Case studies of learners with autism and learning. Autism, 13, 551.
Underhill, K., Montgomery, P., & Operario, D. (2007). Sexual abstinence only programmes to prevent HIV infection in high income countries: Systematic review. BMJ, 335(7613), 248. doi:10.1136/bmj.39245.446586.BE.
Van Bourgondien, M. E., Reichle, M. C., & Palmer, A. (1997). Sexual behavior in adults with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 27(2), 113–125.
Acknowledgements
Preparation of this manuscript was supported in part by generous donations from the Eli and Edythe L. Broad Center for Asperger’s Research, The Kind World Foundation, the Douglas Foundation, and by National Institutes of Health Research Grant #DC010924 from NIDCD. Robert and Lynn Koegel are also partners in the private consulting firm Koegel Autism Consultants.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Koegel, L.K., Detar, W.J., Fox, A., Koegel, R.L. (2014). Romantic Relationships, Sexuality, and Autism Spectrum Disorders. In: Volkmar, F., Reichow, B., McPartland, J. (eds) Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0506-5_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0506-5_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0505-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0506-5
eBook Packages: Behavioral ScienceBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)