ERIC Number: EJ1217790
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Jun
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0162-3257
EISSN: N/A
Family Sexuality Communication for Adolescent Girls on the Autism Spectrum
Holmes, Laura Graham; Strassberg, Donald S.; Himle, Michael B.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, v49 n6 p2403-2416 Jun 2019
Families are critical for supporting healthy sexuality and relationship development for youth with autism. The objective of this study was to describe family sexuality communication for adolescent girls with autism. Participants were 141 parents of autistic daughters who completed an online survey about sexuality development. Most parents relied on discussion alone rather than visual supports or skills-based teaching techniques. Intellectual functioning, child age, race/ethnicity, and whether youth expressed sexual interest in others affected family sexuality communication. We discuss how most parents covered important basics, but many did not cover more nuanced relationship or sexual health topics during family sexuality communication. Few used enhanced instructional techniques (e.g., visual supports, social stories), suggesting potential utilization barriers such as a lack of affordable and available resources. There is a need for research accounting for diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations including asexuality/demisexuality, and for transgender and gender diverse youth.
Descriptors: Family (Sociological Unit), Health, Family Relationship, Sexuality, Adolescents, Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Interpersonal Communication, Youth, Parents, Daughters, Online Surveys
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A