1
|
Torralbas-Ortega J, Valls-Ibáñez V, Roca J, Sastre-Rus M, Campoy-Guerrero C, Sala-Corbinos D, Sánchez-Fernández M. Affectivity and Sexuality in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder from the Perspective of Education and Healthcare Professionals: A Qualitative Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2497. [PMID: 36767863 PMCID: PMC9915282 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Torralbas-Ortega
- Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Nursing Care Research Group, Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute (IIB SANT PAU), 08041 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Judith Roca
- Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
- Research Group of Health Care (GRECS), IRB Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Meritxell Sastre-Rus
- Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Nursing Care Research Group, Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute (IIB SANT PAU), 08041 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Dolores Sala-Corbinos
- Child and Adolescent Day Hospital, Sant Joan de Déu-Terres de Lleida, 25001 Lleida, Spain
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cheak-Zamora N, Tait A, Coleman A. Assessing and Promoting Independence in Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Dev Behav Pediatr 2022; 43:130-139. [PMID: 34636359 DOI: 10.1097/dbp.0000000000001021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Quality of life, independence, and employment outcomes are poor for young adults with autism spectrum disorder (YA-ASD). This study explored the desires and experiences of YA-ASD as they transition into adulthood. METHODS Fifteen YA-ASD, age 18 to 25 years, were recruited from autism spectrum disorder centers, participant registries, and social media advertising. Interested individuals completed a survey and individual interview. Semistructured interview guides included questions about transition experiences, current independence, and future goals. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS The desire of young adults with autism spectrum disorder for independence was shown within 4 themes. YA-ASD described their vision of adulthood along with their need for improved skills in driving, living independently, and decision-making. CONCLUSION The findings indicate YA-ASD desire to be independent but lack the specific support services to get there.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Cheak-Zamora
- Department of Health Sciences, School of Health Professions, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| | - Andrew Tait
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| | - Ann Coleman
- Department of Health Sciences, School of Health Professions, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Joyal CC, Carpentier J, McKinnon S, Normand CL, Poulin MH. Sexual Knowledge, Desires, and Experience of Adolescents and Young Adults With an Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Study. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:685256. [PMID: 34177667 PMCID: PMC8219850 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.685256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Although most persons with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) wish to have romantic and/or sexual relationships, little is known about self-report sexuality of adolescents/young adults with ASD. In this exploratory study, 172 male and female adolescents/young adults (68 with ASD and 104 without ASD) completed an online version of the Sexual Behavior Scale-Third edition. Although many more similarities than differences were observed between the groups for views and desires about romantic relationships (e.g., wishing to have a girlfriend/boyfriend), fewer participants with ASD (mostly boys) had experience with a variety of sexual/dyadic behaviors, and approximately half of girls with ASD reported negative sexual experiences. Significantly higher rates of participants with ASD felt their knowledge about sexuality was limited and found it difficult to understand sexual education compared with typically developing (TD) participants. Significantly lower rates of participants with ASD reported that they identify to their assigned gender compared with TD participants. Multiple regressions revealed that being older at first diagnosis and possessing better knowledge about sexuality were significant predictors of both positive and negative sexual experience. This study explores strengths and challenges related with the sexual health of adolescents/young adults with ASD and implications for clinical and educational practice are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian C. Joyal
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
| | - Julie Carpentier
- Department of Psychoeducation, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
| | - Suzie McKinnon
- Integrated University Health and Social Services Centre (IUHSSC) of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, IUHSSC Bas-Saint-Laurent and IUHSSC Côte-Nord, Saguenay, QC, Canada
- Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Institute, IUHSSC of Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
| | - Claude L. Normand
- Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Institute, IUHSSC of Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Gatineau, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Hélène Poulin
- Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder Research Institute, IUHSSC of Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychoeducation, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cheak-Zamora N, Farmer JG, Crossman MK, Malow BA, Mazurek MO, Kuhlthau K, Stobbe G, Loftin R, Mirza-Agrawal M, Tapia M, Hess A, Davis K, Sohl K. Provider Perspectives on the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes Autism: Transition to Adulthood Program. J Dev Behav Pediatr 2021; 42:91-100. [PMID: 33044397 DOI: 10.1097/dbp.0000000000000872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite their complex health care needs, transition-aged youth diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (TAY-ASD) receive few transition services and describe difficulty finding adult providers. A 12-week primary care provider (PCP) training was developed to improve the delivery of transition services for TAY-ASD [Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Autism: Transition to Adulthood program]. The current study examines the PCPs' perspectives and experiences of the program and application of the training material. METHODS This study used a qualitative descriptive framework to explore the experiences and perspectives of 10 PCPs who completed the ECHO Autism: Transition to Adulthood program. Semistructured focus groups, conducted through Zoom videoconferencing, were used to explore these topics. RESULTS Three overarching categories were identified: (1) beneficial and influential aspects of the ECHO, (2) perceived challenges, and (3) suggestions for improvements and adjustments. Overall, participants found the program highly beneficial, describing an increased sense of community and comprehensive recommendations from a multidisciplinary team. Challenges included difficulties participating in the program during clinical hours and difficulties meeting the educational needs of participants with a wide range of previous experience caring for TAY-ASD. Recommendations included embedding the location-specific material into the program to account for regional differences and the use of an online platform for participants to ask questions and discuss issues outside of the regular sessions. CONCLUSION The study results can inform the development and implementation of new virtual PCP trainings and future ECHOs, including the revision and broad implementation of the ongoing ECHO Autism: Transition to Adulthood program.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Justin G Farmer
- Department of General Academic Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Morgan K Crossman
- Building Bright Futures, Department of General Academic Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA
| | - Beth A Malow
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Micah O Mazurek
- Department of Human Services, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Karen Kuhlthau
- Department of General Academic Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Gary Stobbe
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Rachel Loftin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Mavara Mirza-Agrawal
- Department of Humanities, Health and Society, Embrace Initiative, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL
| | - Mark Tapia
- Department of Special Education, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
| | - Amy Hess
- Child Development Center, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
| | | | - Kristin Sohl
- Department of Child Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Cheak-Zamora N, Petroski G, La Manna A, Beversdorf D, Farmer J. Validation of the Health-Related Independence for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder Measure- Caregiver Version. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 51:2036-2046. [PMID: 32892234 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04690-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about Young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (YA-ASD) health, healthcare and safety needs. This study describes the validation of a health care transition measure for YA-ASD, the Health-Related Independence (HRI). We collected data from caregivers (n = 490) at five Autism Treatment Network sites and compared the psychometric properties of HRI to the gold standard (STARx) and other validated measures. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis and item culling resulted in 30 items addressing six subscales. Content, criterion, and construct validity and internal consistency indicated high validity and reliability for the scale and subscales. HRI is a validated caregiver-report measure of YA-ASD's self-management, safety, and transition skills. This novel measure will be a useful tool in clinics, intervention development, and research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Cheak-Zamora
- Department of Health Professions, School of Health Professions, University of Missouri, 510 Clark Hall, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
| | - Greg Petroski
- Department of Health Management and Informatics, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA
| | - Anna La Manna
- Department of Social Work, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA
| | - David Beversdorf
- Department of Radiology, Neurology and Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA
| | - Janet Farmer
- School of Health Professions, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sala G, Pecora L, Hooley M, Stokes MA. As Diverse as the Spectrum Itself: Trends in Sexuality, Gender and Autism. CURRENT DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS REPORTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40474-020-00190-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
|
7
|
Corbett BA, Muscatello RA, Tanguturi Y, McGinn E, Ioannou S. Pubertal Development Measurement in Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Comparison Between Physical Exam, Parent- and Self-Report. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 49:4807-4819. [PMID: 31448383 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04192-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Adolescence is a time of remarkable biopsychosocial change, which may be particularly challenging for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), necessitating enhanced understanding and accurate assessment of pubertal maturation. The study compared physical examination to parent- and self-report measures in 200 participants (134 males and 66 females) ages 10.0-13.5 years. Both participants with typical development (TD, n = 78) and ASD (n = 122) were included. Concordance ranged from slight-to-fair for self-assessments (κ = .17-.32) and slight-to-moderate for parent-report (κ = .21-.44). Concordance of physical exam with self- and parent-report of the ASD group was somewhat lower than for the TD group. Findings indicate pubertal assessments by parent or child are not reliable indices of precise pubertal staging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Blythe A Corbett
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA. .,Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, PMB 40, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA.
| | | | - Yasas Tanguturi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Emily McGinn
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Sara Ioannou
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Sedgewick F, Leppanen J, Tchanturia K. The Friendship Questionnaire, autism, and gender differences: a study revisited. Mol Autism 2019; 10:40. [PMID: 31798817 PMCID: PMC6883660 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-019-0295-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Friendship Questionnaire (FQ) is a widely used measure of friendships in autism research and beyond. This study sought to revisit the original paper where the measure was presented, using a larger sample of both autistic and non-autistic participants to examine gender differences in scoring. It also sought to expand upon the original paper by comparing FQ results to those of the Unidimensional Relationship Closeness Scale (URCS), to examine whether there are differences in how autistic people report on their general friendships in contrast to their most significant relationships. Methods Participants were recruited for an online study, and 949 people (532 autistic, 417 non-autistic) aged between 18 and 81 took part. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Autism Quotient-28, the Friendship Questionnaire, and the Unidimensional Relationship Closeness Scale. Results We used robust regressions and Pearson's correlational analyses, conducted in R. Autistic people scored lower than non-autistic people on the FQ, and similar gender differences in the pattern of FQ scores were seen in both groups. There was a significant negative correlation between AQ and FQ scores in both groups. On the URCS, we took the data from those who rated specific close relationships and found that autistic people scored this relationship more highly than non-autistic adults did. There was a significant negative correlation between AQ and URCS scores in both groups. Also, in both groups, there was a significant positive correlation between FQ and URCS scores. Limitations The data is entirely self-report, and diagnoses could not be verified with a clinician, although AQ scores support self-identification as autistic. Also, the groups were not evenly matched on age and other demographic variables, although this was controlled for in analyses. It is also the case that more autistic than non-autistic people were unable to specify a close relationship to score on the URCS, meaning that a certain set of experiences are not represented in this data. Conclusions We conclude that our data replicates the core finding of the original FQ paper that autistic people score lower on the FQ. In contrast to that paper, however, we found that there were gender differences among the autistic population. Also, our inclusion of the URCS suggests that the intimate romantic relationships and best-friendships of autistic people can be of similar quality to those of non-autistic people, suggesting that there may be important differences in autistic people's relations with friends in general versus close friends and romantic partners.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jenni Leppanen
- Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - Kate Tchanturia
- Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, SE5 8AF UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust National Eating Disorder Service, London, UK
- Psychology Department, Illia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| |
Collapse
|