Loading...
A Retrospective Chart Analysis of Problematic Sexual Behavior in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Mann, Lara
Mann, Lara
Citations
Altmetric:
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulty learning social, behavior, and communication skills. These difficulties may manifest in various ways and, in some circumstances, lead to problematic sexual behavior (PSB). PSB are behaviors that occur at an inappropriate time/place, to a harmful degree, that cause harm or distress to an individual or a bystander. Socially acceptable sexual behavior as well as PSB are culturally determined and reflect their society’s social norms based on age. PSB is arguably a significant issue among parents of and professionals who serve individuals with ASD, but relatively little research has investigated what causes such behavior. The limited research available suggests several factors may predict a child’s likelihood of engaging in PSB, including developmental and psychiatric conditions, environment and experiences, and demographic factors. The core characteristics of ASD, such as difficulty with social communication and different sensory needs, also may contribute to PSB. Research that investigates whether specific factors associated with these different areas may contribute to a conceptual framework for and future investigations of PSB. The purpose of this dissertation research was to explore a large dataset to better understand and identify factors that may be associated with PSB. This study utilized a retrospective chart review to identify and describe potentially important similarities and differences among children with ASD whose parents expressed concerns about PSB. Findings from a limited sample suggested some participants had profiles that were somewhat but not entirely consistent with previous research of PSB in typically-developing children and children with psychiatric conditions. The differences between prior research results and findings from this dissertation suggest some distinct predictive factors that associated with PSB in children with ASD. Specifically, participants included in this study were largely in the late childhood/early adolescence age of 10-12 years, had at least one comorbid condition, and were described as anxious by their parents. However, some participants did not have specific experiences that previous research suggested was associated with PSB such as foster care history and low SES background. These exploratory results may inform and stimulate future research on this relatively underexplored topic, but also imply potentially important steps professionals can take to solicit information about and better understand the impact of PSB for individuals with ASD.
Description
Date
2020-01-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Kansas
Collections
Archive Status
This item contains archived web content.
Files
Mann_ku_0099D_17357_DATA_1.pdf
Adobe PDF, 1.4 MB
- Embargoed until 2170-05-31
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
Special education, Behavioral sciences, Sexuality, autism, behavior problem, developmental disabilities, inappropriate behavior, sex positive, sexual behavior