Topics and timing of sexuality and relationship education for autistic and non-autistic adults in the United States

Abstract

Introduction: Sexuality and relationship education is a learning area that historically has been overlooked, especially for autistic individuals. To inform future programming, we are in need of evidence-based reasoning to guide program design, such as what to cover and when. In particular, the social aspects of sexuality and relationship education, which are less commonly addressed, need further scrutiny.

Objective: To identify sexuality and relationship education priorities and timelines based on feedback from autistic and non-autistic adults.

Methods: An online anonymous survey of adults in the United States posed questions about sexuality and relationship education, sexual and relationship experiences, and autistic traits.

Results: Comparisons by diagnostic group (autistic and non-autistic) revealed no significant differences in the timing of sexual experiences. Autistic individuals were significantly more likely to indicate that they wanted to learn more about gender identity, sexual orientation, consent, and assertiveness than non-autistic peers. However, the majority of all participants across diagnostic groups wanted more information across all surveyed topics.

Conclusions: Lack of differences in timing of sexuality-related experiences highlights the importance of beginning sexuality and relationship education early for all learners. Important diagnostic group differences highlight critical areas of development for sexuality and relationship education programming. The importance of incorporating needs of autistic learners into program design is highlighted for future work. Overall findings support the idea that more sexuality and relationship education across the lifespan would best meet the learning needs of all people.

Keywords: Autism; Autism across the lifespan; Sex education; Sexuality.