Table 2.

Prevalence and inter-group comparisons of male adolescents/young adults with (n = 41) and without (n = 29) 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	18 (43.9%)	3 (10.3%)	0.003	0.36**
Views about romantic relationships
I believe that being in a long-term relationship in the future is important	31 (75.6%)	27 (93.1%)	0.06	0.23
The things that make up a good romantic relationship include if my boyfriend/girlfriend and I:
Get along	38 (92.7%)	28 (96.6%)	0.492	0.08
Regularly speak with one another	24 (58.5%)	22 (75.9%)	0.135	0.18
Spend a lot of time together	24 (58.5%)	13 (44.8%)	0.258	0.14
Feel emotionally close with each other	23 (56.1%)	25 (86.2%)	0.008	0.32**
Kiss, hug, hold hands etc.	19 (46.3%)	18 (62.1%)	0.194	0.16
Engage in sexual behaviors together	13 (31.7%)	16 (55.2%)	0.05	0.24
Trust each other	32 (78%)	28 (96.6%)	0.03	0.26*
Are affectionate toward each other	32 (78%)	27 (93.1%)	0.09	0.20
Speak about our feelings and emotions to each other	27 (65.9%)	25 (86.2%)	0.06	0.23
Go on dates together	22 (53.7%)	20 (69%)	0.2	0.15
Have exactly the same interests	25 (61%)	7 (24.1%)	0.002	0.36**
Do nice things for each other so that it's fair	28 (68.3%)	19 (65.5%)	0.81	0.03
Looks after me and provides for me	28 (68.3%)	23 (79.3%)	0.31	0.12
I look after and provide for my boyfriend/girlfriend	29 (70.7%)	23 (79.3%)	0.42	0.10
Have open and honest conversations with each other	36 (87.8%)	25 (86.2%)	0.84	0.02
Sexual interests and desires
I would like to have a boyfriend or girlfriend in the near future	29 (70.7%)	25 (86.2%)	0.13	0.18
I am, or have been sexually attracted toward someone	25 (61%)	29 (100%)	0.001	0.46**
I would like to have sex with others	25 (61%)	28 (96.6%)	0.001	0.41**
I want to be in a sexual relationship with another person	27 (65.9%)	28 (96.6%)	0.002	0.37**
I think that I will be in a sexual relationship in the future	34 (82.9%)	28 (100.0%)	0.02	0.28*
My level of interest in sex and sexual topics is about the same or more than other people my age	25 (61%)	28 (96.6%)	0.001	0.41**
I never or rarely think about sex and sexual behaviors:	13 (31.2%)	2 (6.9%)	0.013	0.30**
Internet use
During the last month:
I visited a web site devoted to sexual education at least once a week	2 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0.228	0.14
I chatted with someone on a dating website at least once a week	2 (4.9%)	1 (3.4%)	0.771	0.04
I watch pornographic (explicit sexuality) photos or videos at least once a week	17 (41.5%)	22 (75.9%)	0.010	0.31**
I masturbated watching pornographic (explicit sexuality) photos or videos at least once a week	16 (39.0%)	22 (75.9%)	0.002	0.36**
Sexual strategies and motivations
If I wanted to have casual sex (having sex with someone without being a couple or engaged in a long-term romantic relation), I would:
Kiss them	15 (36.6%)	8 (27.6%)	0.43	0.09
Talk to them	29 (70.7%)	21 (72.4%)	0.88	0.02
Try to have the same interests as them	15 (36.6%)	5 (17.2%)	0.08	0.21
Give them something nice	16 (39%)	7 (24.1%)	0.19	0.16
Sit next to them	20 (48.8%)	13 (44.8%)	0.74	0.04
Watch them almost all of the time	5 (12.2%)	9 (31%)	0.05	0.23
Tease them to get their attention	10 (24.4%)	11 (37.9%)	0.22	0.15
Try to be around them almost all of the time	9 (22%)	7 (24.1%)	0.83	0.03
Ask them on a date	21 (51.2%)	15 (51.7%)	0.97	0.005
Tell others that I like the person	8 (19.5%)	2 (6.9%)	0.14	0.18
Tell them things about me that I think the other person will like	17 (41.5%)	6 (20.7%)	0.07	0.22
Touch them (arms, back, etc.) to show them I am interested in them	11 (26.8%)	9 (31%)	0.70	0.05
The reasons that I might have sex in the future (or have in the past) are:
Because it feels good (Enjoyment)	21 (51.2%)	22 (75.9%)	0.037	0.25*
For fun	24 (58.5%)	23 (79.3%)	0.07	0.22
Because we are friends	2 (4.9%)	2 (6.9%)	0.72	0.04
Because we are in relationships	27 (65.9%)	23 (79.3%)	0.22	0.15
To show that I love them	14 (34.1%)	10 (34.5%)	0.98	0.003
Because I feel like I have to	2 (4.9%)	2 (6.9%)	0.72	0.04
Because we are married	7 (17.1%)	4 (13.8%)	0.71	0.04
Reproduction (to have children)	20 (48.8%)	18 (62.1%)	0.27	0.13
Sexual/dyadic experience
I have held another person's hand (someone that you liked or you were interested in)	22 (53.7%)	25 (86.2%)	0.004	0.34**
I have hugged another person	33 (80.5%)	28 (96.6%)	0.048	0.24
I have kissed another person on the lips (mouth closed)	17 (41.5%)	20 (69%)	0.023	0.27*
I have French kissed someone (includes use of tongue)	9 (22%)	19 (65.5%)	0.001	0.44**
I have had some form of sexual experiences (e.g., touching another sexually, foreplay, any sexual activity, oral sex, sexual intercourse, etc.)	11 (26.8%)	21 (72.4%)	0.001	0.45**
Have you ever had a boyfriend or girlfriend?	17 (42.5%)	20 (69%)	0.03	0.26*
I enjoy using pornographic materials	20 (48.8%)	22 (75.9%)	0.023	0.27*
Negative sexual experiences/worries
I have agreed to have sex with someone and regretted it afterward	5 (12.2%)	6 (14.6%)	0.768	0.035
I have agreed to have sex with someone that I didn't really want to	5 (12.2%)	3 (10.3%)	0.811	0.03
I have been the victim of unwanted sexual advances or behaviors from others	5 (12.2%)	4 (13.8%)	0.844	0.02
I have initiated a sexual behavior with someone, even though I didn't really want to	5 (12.2%)	2 (6.9%)	0.467	0.09
I have been teased or victimized by other people because I didn't know as much about sex as they did	6 (14.6%)	3 (10.3%)	0.597	0.06
I am worried that my sexual behaviors might be misunderstood by other people	18 (43.9%)	6 (21.4%)	0.05	0.23
I worry that I may be taken advantage of	13 (31.7%)	3 (10.7%)	0.04	0.24
Sexual education
I don't know much/I would like to know better about sexuality	18 (43.9%)	2 (6.9%)	0.02	0.40**
I know about the same/I know much more or much about sexuality than most people my age	23 (56.1%)	27 (93.1%)	0.001	0.35**
It was easy for me to understand the sex-education that I received	24 (58.5%)	24 (82.8%)	0.032	0.26*
I would like to know more about sexuality and sexual health	25 (61%)	22 (75.9%)	0.19	0.16
Who taught you what things and actions should be done in private?
My parents	28 (68.3%)	11 (37.9%)	0.01	0.30**
My brother/s or sister/s	1 (2.4%)	2 (6.9%)	0.36	0.11
My friends	11 (26.8%)	5 (17.2%)	0.35	0.11
My grandparents	4 (9.8%)	1 (3.4%)	0.31	0.12
My teachers	13 (31.7%)	7 (24.1%)	0.49	0.08
My counselor/support worker	13 (31.7%)	2 (2.9%)	0.01	0.30**
People on TV or movies	12 (29.3%)	7 (24.1%)	0.63	0.06
I learnt on my own/worked it out for myself	17 (41.5%)	24 (82.8%)	0.001	0.41**
I have mostly learnt about sex-related topics from:
My parents	8 (20%)	4 (13.8%)	0.50	0.08
My brother/s or sister/s	1 (2.4%)	0 (0%)	0.39	0.10
My friends	1 (2.5%)	5 (17.2%)	0.03	0.26*
School	18 (45%)	8 (27.6%)	0.14	0.18
Reading (books, magazines)	3 (7.5%)	2 (6.9%)	0.92	0.01
Services such as counseling or community program	13 (31.7%)	2 (2.9%)	0.24	0.14
TV/movies/Internet	5 (12.5%)	4 (13.8%)	0.88	0.02
None	3 (7.5%)	4 (13.8%)	0.393	0.10
I have been taught the importance of
Use contraception (e.g., condoms, contraceptive pill, etc.)	40 (97.6%)	29 (100%)	0.40	0.10
Having tests for sexually-transmitted infections (STI's)	37 (90.2%)	27 (93.1%)	0.67	0.05
Not making important decisions about sexual activities while affected by alcohol or drugs	34 (82.9%)	25 (86.2%)	0.71	0.04
The sexual activities that should be engaged in only in privacy are:
Kissing someone	5 (12.2%)	0 (0%)	0.05	0.23
Touching someone in a sexual way	38 (92.7%)	24 (82.8%)	0.20	0.15
Undressing the person	28 (96.6%)	28 (97.6%)	0.80	0.03
Sexual behaviors (other than sexual intercourse)	37 (90.2%)	25 (86.2%)	0.60	0.06
Sexual intercourse	39 (95.1%)	26 (89.7%)	0.38	0.11
Sexual identity and orientation
I clearly identify myself as the gender that I was born (boy or girl)	31 (75.6%)	29 (100%)	0.004a	0.34**
I consider myself as transgenderb	2 (4.9%)	0%	0.23	0.14
I consider my sexual orientation to be:
Heterosexual (attracted to people of the opposite sex)	26 (63.4%)	22 (75.9%)	0.269	0.13
Homosexual (attracted to people of the same sex)	5 (12.2%)	1 (3.4%)	0.198	0.15
Bisexual (attracted to people of both sex)	3 (7.3%)	3 (10.3%)	0.656	0.05
Asexual (attracted to neither sex)	3 (7.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0.137	0.18
Questioning (not sure who I am attracted to)	4 (9.8%)	3 (10.3%)	0.936	0.01

¹Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

N/A, not applicable.

^aThe lowest possible p-value was set at 0.001.

^bReported 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).