Affectivity and Sexuality in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder from the Perspective of Education and Healthcare Professionals

People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) present several different characteristics that predispose them to greater difficulties with intimate emotional and sexual relationships. This qualitative study uncovers the perspective of education and healthcare professionals on the affective and sexual ne...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Torralbas Ortega, Jordi|||0000-0002-9423-9332, Valls-Ibáñez, Victoria|||0000-0002-0799-9502, Roca, J.|||0000-0002-0645-1668, Sastre-Rus, Meritxell|||0000-0002-7043-0706, Campoy-Guerrero, Carme|||0000-0002-2052-5424, Sala-Corbinos, Dolores, Sánchez-Fernández, María
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:303845
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/303845
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.3390/ijerph20032497
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Affectivity
Autism
Autism spectrum disorder
Education professionals
Healthcare professionals
Sexuality
Descripción
Sumario:People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) present several different characteristics that predispose them to greater difficulties with intimate emotional and sexual relationships. This qualitative study uncovers the perspective of education and healthcare professionals on the affective and sexual needs of young people with ASD by analysing their narratives in semi-structured focus group sessions. Professionals highlight the inadequate training they receive in this aspect of health. They consider it should be commonplace for professionals working with autistic people as it would aid their collaborative efforts when treating children and adolescents with ASD. They show that, by working together with the families to establish joint objectives, these professionals can appropriately address sex and affective education, preventing risky behaviours among young people with ASD, and improving the interactions these individuals have with others. Sex and affective education is described as an indispensable tool at this stage of development and should be specially adapted for those with ASD.