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Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Gepubliceerd in:

23-09-2020 | Original Paper

“Straight Sex is Complicated Enough!”: The Lived Experiences of Autistics Who are Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Asexual, or Other Sexual Orientations

Auteurs: Laura Foran Lewis, Caroline Ward, Noah Jarvis, Eleni Cawley

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | Uitgave 7/2021

Abstract

Autistics are more likely than neurotypicals to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, and other sexual orientations. Autistics and sexual minorities represent populations at high risk for depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Little is known about the experiences of individuals living at this intersection. In this phenomenology, 67 individuals who identified as autistic sexual minorities participated in online interviews to describe the meaning of their experiences. Six themes emerged, including: self-acceptance is a journey; autistic traits complicate self-identification of sexual orientation; social and sensory stressors affect sexual expression; feeling misunderstood and isolated; challenges finding mutually satisfying relationships; and difficulty recognizing and communicating sexual needs. Autistic sexual minorities experience a “double minority” status that complicates identity formation and increases vulnerability in sexual relationships.

vorige artikel Employing Evidence-Based Practices for Children with Autism in Elementary Schools

volgende artikel Sensory Processing in the Autism Spectrum: The Role of Attention to Detail and Somatic Trait Anxiety in the Olfactory Perception of the General Population

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Titel: “Straight Sex is Complicated Enough!”: The Lived Experiences of Autistics Who are Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Asexual, or Other Sexual Orientations
Auteurs: Laura Foran Lewis
Caroline Ward
Noah Jarvis
Eleni Cawley
Publicatiedatum: 23-09-2020
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders / Uitgave 7/2021
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04696-w

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