Top

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Gepubliceerd in:

03-04-2018 | Original Paper

Broad Autism Phenotypic Traits and the Relationship to Sexual Orientation and Sexual Behavior

Auteurs: Lydia R. Qualls, Kathrin Hartmann, James F. Paulson

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | Uitgave 12/2018

Abstract

Individuals with higher levels of the broad autism phenotype (BAP) have some symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Like individuals with ASD, people with higher-BAP may have fewer sexual experiences and may experience more same-sex attraction. This study measured BAP traits, sexual experiences, and sexual orientation in typically developing (TD) individuals to see if patterns of sexual behavior and sexual orientation in higher-BAP resemble those in ASD. Although BAP characteristics did not predict sexual experiences, one BAP measure significantly predicted sexual orientation, β = 0.22, t = 2.72, p = .007, controlling for demographic variables (R² change = .04, F = 7.41, p = .007), showing individuals with higher-BAP also reported increased same-sex attraction. This finding supports the hypothesis that individuals with higher-BAP resemble ASD individuals in being more likely than TD individuals to experience same-sex attraction.

vorige artikel At the Intersection of Neurodiversity and Gender Diversity

volgende artikel Autistic Traits in Treatment-Seeking Transgender Adults

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th edn. DSM-5). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.CrossRef

Bailey, A., Palferman, S., Heavey, L., & Le Couteur, A. (1998). Autism: The phenotype in relatives. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 28(5), 369–392. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026048320785.CrossRefPubMed

Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., Skinner, R., Martin, J., & Clubley, E. (2001). The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ): Evidence from Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists and mathematicians. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31(1), 5–17.CrossRefPubMed

Bejerot, S., & Eriksson, J. M. (2014). Sexuality and gender role in autism spectrum disorder: A case control study. PLoS ONE, 9(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0087961.CrossRef

Best, C. S., Moffat, V. J., Power, M. J., Owens, D. G. C., & Johnstone, E. C. (2008). The boundaries of the cognitive phenotype of autism: Theory of mind, central coherence and ambiguous figure perception in young people with autistic traits. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(5), 840–847. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-007-0451-8.CrossRefPubMed

Byers, E. S., Nichols, S., & Voyer, S. D. (2013). Challenging stereotypes: Sexual functioning of single adults with high functioning autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(11), 2617–2627. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1813-z.CrossRefPubMed

Byers, E. S., Nichols, S., Voyer, S. D., & Reilly, G. (2012). Sexual well-being of a community sample of high-functioning adults on the autism spectrum who have been in a romantic relationship. Autism, 17(4), 418–433. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361311431950.CrossRefPubMed

Carrington, S., Templeton, E., & Papinczak, T. (2003). Adolescents with Asperger syndrome and perceptions of friendship. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 18(4), 211–218.CrossRef

Constantino, J. N., & Todd, R. D. (2007). Autistic traits in the general population. Archives of General Psychiatry, 60(5), 524–530. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.60.5.524.CrossRef

Cox, A., Kohls, G., Naples, A. J., Mukerji, C. E., Coffman, M. C., Rutherford, H. J. V., … McPartland, J. C. (2015). Diminished social reward anticipation in the broad autism phenotype as revealed by event-related brain potentials. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 10(10), 1357–1364. https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsv024.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Derogatis, L. R., & Melisaratos, N. (1979). The DSFI: A multidimensional measure of sexual functioning. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 5(1), 244–281.CrossRefPubMed

DeWinter, J., De Graaf, H., & Begeer, S. (2017). Sexual orientation, gender identity, and romantic relationships in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(9), 2927–2934. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3199-9.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Floyd, F. J., & Stein, T. S. (2002). Sexual orientation identity formation among gay, lesbian, and bisexual youths: Multiple patterns of milestone experiences. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 12(2), 167–191. https://doi.org/10.1111/1532-7795.00030.CrossRef

George, R., & Stokes, M. A. (2018). Sexual orientation in autism spectrum disorder. Autism Research, 11(1), 133–141.CrossRefPubMed

Gilmour, L., Schalomon, P. M., & Smith, V. (2012). Sexuality in a community based sample of adults with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 6(1), 313–318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2011.06.003.CrossRef

Gonsiorek, J. C., Sell, R. L., & Weinrich, J. D. (1995). Definition and measurement of sexual orientation. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 25(Suppl 1), 40–51.CrossRefPubMed

Hoekstra, R. A., Bartels, M., Cath, D. C., & Boomsma, D. I. (2008). Factor structure, reliability and criterion validity of the autism-spectrum quotient (AQ): A study in Dutch population and patient groups. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(8), 1555–1566. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0538-x.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Hoekstra, R. A., Bartels, M., Verweij, C. J. H., & Boomsma, D. I. (2007). Heritability of autistic traits in the general population. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 161(4), 372–377. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.161.4.372.CrossRef

Howlin, P., Mawhood, L., & Rutter, M. (2000). Autism and developmental receptive language disorder-a follow-up comparison in early adult life. II: Social, behavioural, and psychiatric outcomes. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 41(5), 561–578. https://doi.org/10.1111/1469-7610.00643.CrossRefPubMed

Hurley, R. S. E., Losh, M., Parlier, M., Reznick, J. S., & Piven, J. (2007). The Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(9), 1679–1690. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0299-3.CrossRefPubMed

Hurst, R. M., Mitchell, J. T., Kimbrel, N. A., Kwapil, T. K., & Nelson-Gray, R. O. (2007). Examination of the reliability and factor structure of the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) in a non-clinical sample. Personality and Individual Differences, 43(7), 1938–1949. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2007.06.012.CrossRef

Ingersoll, B., Hopwood, C. J., Wainer, A., & Brent Donnellan, M. (2011). A comparison of three self-report measures of the broader autism phenotype in a non-clinical sample. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41(12), 1646–1657. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1192-2.CrossRefPubMed

Jobe, L. E., & White, S. W. (2007). Loneliness, social relationships, and a broader autism phenotype in college students. Personality and Individual Differences, 42(8), 1479–1489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2006.10.021.CrossRef

Klein, F., Sepekoff, B., & Wolf, T. (1985). Sexual orientation: A multivariable dynamic process. Journal of Homosexuality, 11(1–2), 35–49.CrossRefPubMed

Kunihira, Y., Senju, A., Dairoku, H., Wakabayashi, A., & Hasegawa, T. (2006). “Autistic” traits in non-autistic Japanese populations: Relationships with personality traits and cognitive ability. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(4), 553–566. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0094-1.CrossRefPubMed

Lamport, D., & Turner, L. A. (2014). Romantic attachment, empathy, and the broader autism phenotype among college students. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 175(3), 202–213. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221325.2013.856838.CrossRefPubMed

Mehzabin, P., & Stokes, M. A. (2011). Self-assessed sexuality in young adults with high-functioning autism. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5(1), 614–621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2010.07.006.CrossRef

Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129(5), 674–697. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Palmer, C. J., Paton, B., Enticott, P. G., & Hohwy, J. (2014). “Subtypes” in the presentation of autistic traits in the general adult population. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(3), 1291–1301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2289-1.CrossRef

Pecora, L. A., Mesibov, G. B., & Stokes, M. A. (2016). Sexuality in high-functioning autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(11), 3519–3556. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2892-4.CrossRefPubMed

Pisula, E., Kawa, R., Danielewicz, D., & Pisula, W. (2015). The relationship between temperament and autistic traits in a non-clinical students sample. PLoS ONE, 10(4), e0124364. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0124364.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Piven, J., & Palmer, P. (1997). Cognitive deficits in parents from multiple-incidence autism families. The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 38(8), 1011–1021. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.1997.tb01618.x.CrossRefPubMed

Piven, J., Palmer, P., Jacobi, D., Childress, D., & Arndt, S. (1997a). Broader autism phenotype: Evidence from a family history study of multiple-incidence autism families. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 154, 185–190. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.154.2.185.CrossRefPubMed

Piven, J., Palmer, P., Landa, R., Santangelo, S., Jacobi, D., & Childress, D. (1997b). Personality and language characteristics in parents from multiple-incidence autism families. American Journal of Medical Genetics: Neuropsychiatric Genetics, 74, 398–411.CrossRefPubMed

Pollmann, M. M. H., Finkenauer, C., & Begeer, S. (2010). Mediators of the link between autistic traits and relationship satisfaction in a non-clinical sample. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40(4), 470–478. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0888-z.CrossRefPubMed

Rainie, B. L., & Madden, M. (2005). Not looking for love: The state of romance in America. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2006/02/13/romance-in-america/.

Rupp, H. A., & Wallen, K. (2007). Sex differences in viewing sexual stimuli: An eye-tracking study in men and women. Hormones and Behavior, 51(4), 524–533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2007.01.008.CrossRefPubMed

Sasson, N. J., Lam, K. S. L., Childress, D., Parlier, M., Daniels, J., & Piven, J. (2013). The Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire: Prevalence and diagnostic classification. Autism Research, 6(2), 134–143. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.1272.The.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Szatmari, P., Georgiades, S., Duku, E., Zwaigenbaum, L., Goldberg, J., & Bennett, T. (2008). Alexithymia in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(10), 1859–1865. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0576-4.CrossRefPubMed

Taylor, J. F., Rosen, R. C., & Leiblum, S. R. (1994). Self-report assessment of female sexual function: Psychometric evaluations of the brief index of sexual functioning for women. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 23(6), 627–643.CrossRefPubMed

Visser, K., Greaves-Lord, K., Tick, N. T., Verhulst, F. C., Maras, A., & van der Vegt, E. J. M. (2015). Study protocol: A randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of a psychosexual training program for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. BMC Psychiatry, 15, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-015-0586-7.CrossRef

Wainer, A. L., Ingersoll, B. R., & Hopwood, C. J. (2011). The structure and nature of the broader autism phenotype in a non-clinical sample. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 33(4), 459–469. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-011-9259-0.CrossRef

Wang, W., & Parker, K. (2014). Record share of Americans have never married: As values, economics and gender patterns change. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project.

Ward, B. W., Dahlhamer, J. M., Galinsky, A. M., & Joestl, S. S. (2014). Sexual orientation and health among U.S. adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2013. National Health Statistics Reports, 77, 1–12.CrossRef

Titel: Broad Autism Phenotypic Traits and the Relationship to Sexual Orientation and Sexual Behavior
Auteurs: Lydia R. Qualls
Kathrin Hartmann
James F. Paulson
Publicatiedatum: 03-04-2018
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders / Uitgave 12/2018
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3556-3

Andere artikelen Uitgave 12/2018

Brief Report: Sex Differences in Parental Concerns for Toddlers with Autism Risk

Brief Report

Does an Autism Spectrum Disorder Care Pathway Improve Care for Children and Adolescents with ASD in Inpatient Psychiatric Units?

Original Paper

California Autism Prevalence Trends from 1931 to 2014 and Comparison to National ASD Data from IDEA and ADDM

Open Access
Original Paper

Adult Siblings Who Have a Brother or Sister with Autism: Between-Family and Within-Family Variations in Sibling Relationships

Original Paper

Brief Report: Gender and Age of Diagnosis Time Trends in Children with Autism Using Australian Medicare Data

Brief Report

“They Thought It Was an Obsession”: Trajectories and Perspectives of Autistic Transgender and Gender-Diverse Adolescents

Original Paper