Affectivity, sexuality, and autism spectrum disorder: qualitative analysis of the experiences of autistic young adults and their families

BackgroundAutistic people have communication, sensorial, and social difficulties, which on many occasions, make their adaptation on the sexual and affective levels difficult. For this reason, it is important to know the opinion of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their families,...

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Autores: Torralbas-Ortega, J, Roca, J, Coelho-Martinho, R, Orozko, Z, Sanromà-Ortiz, M, Valls-Ibáñez, V
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:España
Institución:Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau)
Repositorio:r-IIB SANT PAU. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica del Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Sant Pau
OAI Identifier:oai:iibsantpau.fundanetsuite.com:p17472
Acceso en línea:https://iibsantpau.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=17472
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85176912299&doi=10.1186%2fs12888-023-05380-w&partnerID=40&md5=8e6a23f26757fc0c1f9e09b83eac01f1
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Autism
Autism Spectrum disorders
Sexuality
Affectivity
Families
Adolescence
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spelling Affectivity, sexuality, and autism spectrum disorder: qualitative analysis of the experiences of autistic young adults and their familiesTorralbas-Ortega, JRoca, JCoelho-Martinho, ROrozko, ZSanromà-Ortiz, MValls-Ibáñez, VAutismAutism Spectrum disordersSexualityAffectivityFamiliesAdolescenceBackgroundAutistic people have communication, sensorial, and social difficulties, which on many occasions, make their adaptation on the sexual and affective levels difficult. For this reason, it is important to know the opinion of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their families, to offer this perspective to professionals to facilitate adapted health education programs in mental health units.MethodsThis qualitative descriptive design presents the experiences of autistic individuals and their families in relation to the affective-sexual experiences from individual, family, and social perspectives. Two focus group sessions were held with eight family members and seven individual semi-structured interviews with autistic young adults. The transcripts were qualitatively analysed using content analysis.ResultsFour themes (Family and social dynamic; Social behaviour of the autistic individual; Affective-sexual relationships; Addressing affective and sex education) and 13 related categories emerged from these results. Communication and social interaction problems act as barriers for young adults when developing affective-sexual relationships, leading to the emergence of negative feelings and experiences that reinforce avoidance behaviours, further intensifying their difficulties in interacting with others. Families, especially mothers, exhibit a poor perception of their ability to provide affective-sexual guidance, leading to anxiety and frustration. There are also reports of poor sex education and lack of support systems.Conclusions and implications for practiceThe experiences of young people and their families are sometimes conflicting when it comes to affectivity and sexuality, but the parental role emerges as relevant in the sex education process. Families play a pivotal role in sex education, which is why professionals should provide them with support and information through health education programmes, foster empathetic communication and promote sexual and emotional development that is adapted to the characteristics and interests of autistic people.BMC2023info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttps://iibsantpau.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=17472https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85176912299&doi=10.1186%2fs12888-023-05380-w&partnerID=40&md5=8e6a23f26757fc0c1f9e09b83eac01f1BMC PsychiatryISSN: 1471244Xreponame:r-IIB SANT PAU. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica del Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Sant Pauinstname:Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau)Inglésinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:iibsantpau.fundanetsuite.com:p174722026-06-14T12:41:47Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Affectivity, sexuality, and autism spectrum disorder: qualitative analysis of the experiences of autistic young adults and their families
title Affectivity, sexuality, and autism spectrum disorder: qualitative analysis of the experiences of autistic young adults and their families
spellingShingle Affectivity, sexuality, and autism spectrum disorder: qualitative analysis of the experiences of autistic young adults and their families
Torralbas-Ortega, J
Autism
Autism Spectrum disorders
Sexuality
Affectivity
Families
Adolescence
title_short Affectivity, sexuality, and autism spectrum disorder: qualitative analysis of the experiences of autistic young adults and their families
title_full Affectivity, sexuality, and autism spectrum disorder: qualitative analysis of the experiences of autistic young adults and their families
title_fullStr Affectivity, sexuality, and autism spectrum disorder: qualitative analysis of the experiences of autistic young adults and their families
title_full_unstemmed Affectivity, sexuality, and autism spectrum disorder: qualitative analysis of the experiences of autistic young adults and their families
title_sort Affectivity, sexuality, and autism spectrum disorder: qualitative analysis of the experiences of autistic young adults and their families
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Torralbas-Ortega, J
Roca, J
Coelho-Martinho, R
Orozko, Z
Sanromà-Ortiz, M
Valls-Ibáñez, V
author Torralbas-Ortega, J
author_facet Torralbas-Ortega, J
Roca, J
Coelho-Martinho, R
Orozko, Z
Sanromà-Ortiz, M
Valls-Ibáñez, V
author_role author
author2 Roca, J
Coelho-Martinho, R
Orozko, Z
Sanromà-Ortiz, M
Valls-Ibáñez, V
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Autism
Autism Spectrum disorders
Sexuality
Affectivity
Families
Adolescence
topic Autism
Autism Spectrum disorders
Sexuality
Affectivity
Families
Adolescence
description BackgroundAutistic people have communication, sensorial, and social difficulties, which on many occasions, make their adaptation on the sexual and affective levels difficult. For this reason, it is important to know the opinion of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their families, to offer this perspective to professionals to facilitate adapted health education programs in mental health units.MethodsThis qualitative descriptive design presents the experiences of autistic individuals and their families in relation to the affective-sexual experiences from individual, family, and social perspectives. Two focus group sessions were held with eight family members and seven individual semi-structured interviews with autistic young adults. The transcripts were qualitatively analysed using content analysis.ResultsFour themes (Family and social dynamic; Social behaviour of the autistic individual; Affective-sexual relationships; Addressing affective and sex education) and 13 related categories emerged from these results. Communication and social interaction problems act as barriers for young adults when developing affective-sexual relationships, leading to the emergence of negative feelings and experiences that reinforce avoidance behaviours, further intensifying their difficulties in interacting with others. Families, especially mothers, exhibit a poor perception of their ability to provide affective-sexual guidance, leading to anxiety and frustration. There are also reports of poor sex education and lack of support systems.Conclusions and implications for practiceThe experiences of young people and their families are sometimes conflicting when it comes to affectivity and sexuality, but the parental role emerges as relevant in the sex education process. Families play a pivotal role in sex education, which is why professionals should provide them with support and information through health education programmes, foster empathetic communication and promote sexual and emotional development that is adapted to the characteristics and interests of autistic people.
publishDate 2023
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2023
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https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85176912299&doi=10.1186%2fs12888-023-05380-w&partnerID=40&md5=8e6a23f26757fc0c1f9e09b83eac01f1
url https://iibsantpau.fundanetsuite.com/Publicaciones/ProdCientif/PublicacionFrw.aspx?id=17472
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85176912299&doi=10.1186%2fs12888-023-05380-w&partnerID=40&md5=8e6a23f26757fc0c1f9e09b83eac01f1
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv BMC
publisher.none.fl_str_mv BMC
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv BMC Psychiatry
ISSN: 1471244X
reponame:r-IIB SANT PAU. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica del Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Sant Pau
instname:Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau)
instname_str Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau)
reponame_str r-IIB SANT PAU. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica del Instituto de Investigación Biomédica Sant Pau
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