Exploring the Experience of Romantic Relationships and Sexuality Education in Neurodivergent and Neurotypical Young Individuals

Smusz, Magdalena; Allely, Clare; Birkbeck, Christopher; Bidgood, Amy

Abstract

Purpose The literature indicates that sexuality education provided in schools/colleges in
the United Kingdom (UK) may not be appropriate for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). There appears to be a lack of understanding of the subject regarding young
people with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and a dual diagnosis (ASD
co-occurring with ADHD). Research also suggests that compared to neurotypical peers,
young people with ASD tend to receive less support on sexuality from their parents, who
often feel that they lack the appropriate skills to help their children with some sex-related
issues. Some young people with ASD and ADHD also report lacking an understanding of
the social nuances of dating and intimacy, which is crucial for navigating romantic relationships. Design/methodology/approach This study explored sexuality education and
romantic relationships in young people based on a semi-structured interview approach to
the topic. Thematic Analysis (TA) was employed to analyze the data. Findings Six themes
were developed from the participants’ narratives: Societal ideology about sexuality; Substandard school-based sexuality education; The role of adults in sexuality education; Pornography, as a very powerful alternative means of sexuality education; Young people and
romance—a complicated world to navigate; Experience of abuse in the young neurodivergent population is a serious matter. Findings revealed that many neurodivergent and neurotypical young people received basic sex education in their schools/colleges and homes
and encountered challenges navigating romantic relationships. Neurodivergent young people reported experiencing greater challenges related to their understanding of and building
romantic relationships than their neurotypical peers. Originality/value To the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first exploration of romantic relationships and sexuality education in neurotypical young people as well as three groups of neurodivergent young people
(with ASD, ADHD, and ASD co-occurring with ADHD).

Citation

Smusz, M., Allely, C., Birkbeck, C., & Bidgood, A. (2024). Exploring the Experience of Romantic Relationships and Sexuality Education in Neurodivergent and Neurotypical Young Individuals. Sexuality and Disability, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-024-09857-8

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 26, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jun 4, 2024
• Publication Date: Jun 4, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jun 5, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 11, 2024
• Journal: Sexuality and Disability
• Print ISSN: 0146-1044
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-024-09857-8
• Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder · Autistic · Attention-defcit/hyperactivity disorder · ASD co-occurring with ADHD · Romantic relationships · Sexuality education · Young People · The United Kingdom