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. 2021 Jun 9;12:685256. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.685256

Table 1.

Prevalence and inter-group comparisons of adolescents/young adults with (n = 68) and without (n = 104) a diagnosis of ASD1.

Items With ASD agree Without ASD agree p V
n (%) n (%)
Socializing
I rarely or sometimes socialize with people other than my family 31 (45.6%) 9 (8.7%) 0.001a 0.43**
Views about romantic relationships
I believe that being in a long-term relationship in the future is important 55 (80.9%) 95 (91.3%) 0.045 0.15
The things that make up a good romantic relationship include if my boyfriend/girlfriend and I:
   Get along 63 (92.7%) 97 (93.3%) 0.859 0.02
   Regularly speak with one another 46 (67.6%) 86 (82.7%) 0.022 0.17
   Spend a lot of time together 42 (61.8%) 44 (44.3%) 0.013 0.19
   Feel emotionally close with each other 46 (67.6%) 80 (76.9%) 0.179 0.10
   Kiss, hug, hold hands etc. 36 (52.9%) 70 (67.3%) 0.058 0.14
   Engage in sexual behaviors together 24 (35.3%) 57 (54.8%) 0.012 0.19
   Trust each other 57 (83.8%) 99 (95.2%) 0.012 0.19
   Are affectionate toward each other 55 (80.9%) 92 (88.5%) 0.168 0.11
   Speak about our feelings and emotions to each other 46 (67.6%) 91 (87.5%) 0.002 0.24
   Go on dates together 40 (58.8%) 67 (64.4%) 0.459 0.06
   Have exactly the same interests 44 (64.7%) 39 (37.5%) 0.001 0.27*
   Do nice things for each other so that it's fair 50 (73.5%) 78 (75.0%) 0.829 0.02
   Looks after me and provides for me 50 (73.5%) 87 (83.7%) 0.107 0.12
   I look after and provide for my boyfriend/girlfriend 50 (73.5%) 86 (82.7%) 0.149 0.11
   Have open and honest conversations with each other 60 (88.2%) 98 (94.2%) 0.160 0.11
Sexual interests and desires
I would like to have a boyfriend or girlfriend in the near future 53 (77.9%) 92 (88.5%) 0.064 0.14
I am, or have been sexually attracted toward someone 46 (67.6%) 100 (96.2%) 0.001 0.39**
I would like to have sex with others 46 (67.6%) 98 (94.2%) 0.001 0.35**
I want to be in a sexual relationship with another person 41 (60.3%) 89 (85.6%) 0.001 0.29*
I think that I will be in a sexual relationship in the future 59 (88.1%) 98 (97.0%) 0.021 0.18
My level of interest in sex and sexual topics is about the same or more than other people my age 41 (60.3%) 95 (91.3%) 0.001 0.37**
I never or rarely think about sex and sexual behaviors: 20 (29.4%) 10 (9.6%) 0.001 0.26*
Internet use
During the last month:
   I visited a web site devoted to sexual education at least once a week 4 (5.9%) 0 (0.0%) 0.012 0.19
   I chatted with someone on a dating website at least once a week 5 (7.4%) 4 (3.8%) 0.313 0.08
   I watch pornographic (explicit sexuality) photos or videos at least once a week 21(30.9%) 33 (31.7%) 0.907 0.01
   I masturbated watching pornographic (explicit sexuality) photos or videos at least once a week 20 (29.4%) 32 (30.8%) 0.850 0.01
Sexual strategies and motivations
If I wanted to have casual sex (having sex with someone without being in a couple or engaged in a long-term romantic relation), I would:
   Kiss them 21 (30.9%) 36 (34.6%) 0.611 0.04
   Talk to them 50 (73.5%) 66 (63.5%) 0.168 0.11
   Try to have the same interests as them 23 (33.8%) 10 (9.6%) 0.001 0.29*
   Give them something nice 22 (32.4%) 10 (9.6%) 0.001 0.29*
   Sit next to them 30 (44.1%) 36 (34.6%) 0.210 0.10
   Watch them almost all of the time 10 (14.7%) 24 (23.1%) 0.178 0.10
   Tease them to get their attention 15 (22.1%) 48 (46.2%) 0.001 0.25*
   Try to be around them almost all of the time 15 (22.1%) 22 (21.2%) 0.888 0.01
   Ask them on a date 29 (42.6%) 54 (51.9%) 0.234 0.10
   Tell others that I like the person 13 (19.1%) 20 (19.2%) 0.985 0.00
   Tell them things about me that I think the other person will like 27 (39.7%) 18 (17.3%) 0.001 0.25*
   Touch them (arms, back, etc.) to show them I am interested in them 19 (27.9%) 36 (34.6%) 0.359 0.07
The reasons that I might have sex in the future (or have in the past) are:
   Because it feels good (Enjoyment) 33 (48.5%) 83 (79.8%) 0.001 0.33**
   For fun 36 (52.9%) 81 (77.9%) 0.001 0.26*
   Because we are friends 2 (2.9%) 8 (7.7%) 0.193 0.10
   Because we are in relationships 45 (66.2%) 86 (82.7%) 0.013 0.19
   To show that I love them 22 (32.4%) 33 (31.7%) 0.932 0.01
   Because I feel like I have to 4 (5.9%) 5 (4.8%) 0.757 0.02
   Because we are married 8 (11.8%) 19 (18.3%) 0.252 0.09
   Reproduction (to have children) 26 (38.3%) 57 (54.8%) 0.003 0.16
Sexual/dyadic experience
I have held another person's hand (someone that you liked or you were interested in) 47 (69.1%) 93 (89.4%) 0.001 0.26*
I have hugged another person 60 (88.2%) 101 (97.1%) 0.020 0.18
I have kissed another person on the lips (mouth closed) 38 (55.9%) 87 (83.7%) 0.001 0.31**
I have French kissed someone (includes use of tongue) 26 (38.2%) 81 (77.9%) 0.001 0.40**
I have had some form of sexual experiences (e.g., touching another sexually, foreplay, any sexual activity, oral sex, sexual intercourse, etc.) 27 (39.7%) 85 (81.7%) 0.001 0.43**
Have you ever had a boyfriend or girlfriend? 39 (58.2%) 82 (78.8%) 0.004 0.22
I enjoy using pornographic materials 32 (47.1%) 58 (55.8%) 0.263 0.09
Negative sexual experiences/worries
I have agreed to have sex with someone and regretted it afterward 18 (26.5%) 35 (33.7%) 0.318 0.08
I have agreed to have sex with someone that I didn't really want to 18 (26.5%) 34 (32.7%) 0.385 0.07
I have been the victim of unwanted sexual advances or behaviors from others 19 (27.9%) 28 (26.9%) 0.884 0.01
I have initiated a sexual behavior with someone, even though I didn't really want to 16 (23.5%) 21 (20.2%) 0.603 0.04
I have been teased or victimized by other people because I didn't know as much about sex as they did 13 (19.1%) 14 (13.5%) 0.319 0.08
I am worried that my sexual behaviors might be misunderstood by other people 26 (38.8%) 17 (16.8%) 0.001 0.25*
I worry that I may be taken advantage of 26 (38.8%) 34 (33.7%) 0.496 0.05
Sexual education and privacy knowledge
I don't know much/I would like to know better about sexuality 29 (42.6%) 16 (15.4%) 0.001 0.30**
I know about the same/I know much more or much about sexuality than most people my age 39 (57.4%) 88 (84.6%) 0.001 0.34**
It was easy for me to understand the sex-education that I received 33 (48.5%) 83 (79.9%) 0.001 0.33**
I would like to know more about sexuality and sexual health 39 (57.4%) 63 (60.6%) 0.674 0.03
Who taught you what things and actions should be done in private?
   My parents 42 (61.8%) 53 (51.0%) 0.164 0.11
   My brother/s or sister/s 4 (5.9%) 5 (4.8%) 0.757 0.02
   My friends 16 (23.5%) 30 (28.8%) 0.441 0.06
   My grandparents 4 (5.9%) 5 (4.8%) 0.757 0.02
   My teachers 24 (35.3%) 25 (24.0%) 0.110 0.12
   My counselor/support worker 19 (27.9%) 8 (7.7%)* 0.001 0.27*
   People on TV or movies 22 (32.4%) 31 (29.8%) 0.724 0.03
   I learnt on my own/worked it out for myself 32 (47.1%) 68 (65.4%) 0.017 0.18
I have mostly learnt about sex-related topics from:
   My parents 12 (17.9%) 12 (11.5%) 0.242 0.09
   My brother/s or sister/s 2 (3.0%) 0 0.076 0.14
   My friends 5 (7.5%) 31 (29.8%) 0.001 0.27*
   School 26 (38.8%) 25 (24.0%) 0.039 0.16
   Reading (books, magazines) 6 (9.0%) 6 (5.8%) 0.426 0.06
   Services such as counseling or community program 1 (1.5%) 2 (1.9%) 0.834 0.02
   TV/movies/Internet 8 (11.9%) 15 (14.4%) 0.642 0.04
   None 4 (6.0%) 8 (7.7%) 0.667 0.03
I have been taught the importance of
   Use contraception (e.g., condoms, contraceptive pill, etc.) 66 (97.1%) 104 (100.0%) 0.079 0.13
   Having tests for sexually-transmitted infections (STI's) 60 (88.2%) 96 (92.3%) 0.369 0.07
   Not making important decisions about sexual activities while affected by alcohol or drugs 57 (83.8%) 91 (87.5%) 0.496 0.05
The sexual activities that should be engaged in only in privacy are:
   Kissing someone 8 (11.8%) 2 (1.9%) 0.007 0.21
   Touching someone in a sexual way 63 (92.6%) 88 (84.6%) 0.116 0.12
   Undressing the person 66 (97.1%) 99 (95.2%) 0.545 0.05
   Sexual behaviors (other than sexual intercourse) 61 (89.7%) 92 (88.5%) 0.799 0.02
   Sexual intercourse 64 (94.1%) 93 (89.4%) 0.286 0.08
Sexual identity and orientation
I clearly identify myself as the gender that I was born (boy or girl) 50 (73.5%) 99 (95.2%) 0.001 0.31**
I consider myself as transgenderb 6 (8.8%) 2 (1.9%) 0.036 0.16
I consider my sexual orientation to be:
   Heterosexual (attracted to people of the opposite sex) 43 (63%) 74 (71.2%) 0.276 0.08
   Homosexual (attracted to people of the same sex) 6 (9%) 1 (1.0%) 0.011 0.20
   Bisexual (attracted to people of both sex) 10 (14.7%) 20 (19.2) 0.445 0.06
   Asexual (attracted to neither sex) 4 (6%) 1 (1.0%) 0.060 0.14
   Questioning (not sure who I am attracted to) 5 (7.4%) 8 (7.7%) 0.934 0.01
1

Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

N/A, not applicable.

a

The lowest possible p-value was set at 0.001.

b

Reported to be transgender or did not feel that assigned gender was correct.

*

Near medium effect size (0.25–0.29).

**

Medium effect size (0.30 and over).