Anglia Ruskin Psychologists: Young People With Autism Are NOT Receiving Sufficient Sex Education

Sex education was insufficient and failed to meet the needs of young people within autism spectrum, according to a recent study by Anglia Ruskin University psychologists. The study suggests that schools must consider providing sexual awareness and sex education lessons that are customized to the very exact requirements of youths with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The study, led by Psychologist Steven Stagg from Anglia Ruskin University, examined the feelings towards sexual awareness and sex education of 20 typical young adults and 20 individuals with autism disorder. Data were produced from semi-structured interviews and questionnaires.

In the Cambridge News, Dr. Stagg pointed out that sexual consciousness in the autistic group scored 40 percent lower than the typical comparison group and 78 percent lower for sexual aggressiveness. He added that this lowered awareness may lead some individuals into situations where they may be vulnerable to exploitation, especially as some participants in the study spoke about situations where they had been exploited.

Overall, the findings showed that there was no difference of feelings toward sex education between the two groups. However, the groups significantly differed on sexual awareness measurements. Dr. Stagg said that they found out that the young people with ASD reported negative experiences of sex education.

The study reported that the prominent features of the interviews were issues of confused sexuality, social anxiety and problem of vulnerability. "The participants felt that sex education in school was inadequate and failed to address their specific needs," Dr. Stagg remarked.

The lack of sexual education for rationally disabled individuals is rooted in a prevalent social problem: no one wants to admit that disabled people are sexual in the first place, Broadly reveals. The report continues that young adults with autism who have not received sufficient sexual health information might have struggles integrating themselves in the workplace or social settings.

Participants of the study wanted sex education to be provided in a slower pace and to cover topics like language of sex, the study found out. For instance, one girl said that she did not understand the term "dirty talk" and didn't know when it was used as jokes or whether people were not joking.