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J Autism Dev Disord (2016) 46:35193556 DOI 10.1007/s10803-016-2892-4
http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s10803-016-2892-4&domain=pdf
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Sexuality in High-Functioning Autism: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Laura A. Pecora1 Gary B. Mesibov2 Mark A. Stokes1
Published online: 27 August 2016 Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016
Abstract Preliminary research examining sexuality within High-Functioning Autism (HFA) has been yet to consider the impact sex may have on the sexual/romantic functioning of this population. A systematic database search was carried out to identify 27 observational and cross-sectional publications meeting predetermined inclusion criteria. Using standardised mean differences, a random-effects meta-analysis pooled data from 9 eligible studies. Exhibiting higher levels of sexual understanding, females with HFA were subject to more adverse sexual experiences than males with HFA and neurotypical counterparts. Males reported greater desire for, and engagement in both solitary and dyadic sexual contact. Findings have provided initial insight into characterising the sexuality of males and females with HFA, yet also necessitated the need for future research in the eld.
Keywords Autism spectrum disorder High-functioning
autism Sexuality Female prole Systematic review and
meta-analysis
Introduction
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental conditions with prevalence estimates that have risen 100-fold since its initial conception (Blumberg et al. 2013). Within phenomenological literature, one of the most consistently cited, yet widely unexplained observations has been the overrepresentation of males in ASD, with a male: female sex ratio that currently ranges from 2:1 to 3:1 (Goldman 2013; Lai et al. 2013). Recognising that previous diagnostic classication systems and the majority of research has been primarily focused on the symptom characteristics of the male phenotype; more recent literature aiming to uncover the unique presentation of ASD in females has identied marked sex differences in a range of social, emotional, and cognitive domains in child and adolescent samples (Carter et al. 2007; Mandy et al. 2012; Head et al. 2014; Nichols 2009). Some of these include less severe social and communicative impairments in females, and restricted special interests that are more closely aligned with those seen in typically developing (TD) peers (Gould and Ashton-Smith 2011; Head et al. 2014; Mandy et al. 2012; Van Wijngaarden-Cremers et al. 2014). Moreover, females have also been found to cope and apply adjustment strategies in...