INSAR Special Interest Group Report: Stakeholder Perspectives on Priorities for Future Research on Autism, Sexuality, and Intimate Relationships.
Jeroen Dewinter, Anna I R van der Miesen, Laura Graham Holmes
PMID 32588542WHAT IT FOUND
Stakeholders prioritized research on supporting healthy relationships, comprehensive sexuality education, and preventing victimization.
Autistic participants ranked understanding lived experience and identity higher than non-autistic stakeholders, who focused more on risk prevention. No interventions were tested.
Key findings
01Participants identified three main areas for future research: improving support and interventions for sexual health, gaining a comprehensive understanding of sexuality across the lifespan, and challenging societal stereotypes about autistic sexuality.
02The highest ranked theme for all participants was how to support healthy and satisfying romantic relationships, followed by promoting sexual well-being and understanding how autistic people experience sexuality across the lifespan.
03Non-autistic participants called for more research on preventing sexual victimization and offending, whereas autistic participants ranked this theme lower and prioritized understanding unique aspects of autistic sexuality and identity development.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study included a relatively small number of participants (65), most of whom were from Europe and North America. Participants were largely verbally fluent and had resources to attend conferences, potentially excluding those with intellectual disabilities or minimal verbal language. Autistic participants were not involved in the thematic analysis stage, limiting the extent of participatory research. No participants with intellectual disabilities were included, despite this being a noted area of concern.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these findings as evidence that specific interventions for sexuality or relationships are effective. This study reports stakeholder priorities for future research, not clinical outcomes or treatment efficacy.