Table 3.
Prevalence and inter-group comparisons of female adolescents/young adults with (n = 27) and without (n = 75) 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 | 13 (48.1%) | 6 (8.0%) | 0.001 | 0.46** |
| Views about romantic relationships | ||||
| I believe that being in a long-term relationship in the future is important | 24 (88.9%) | 68 (90.7%) | 0.79 | 0.03 |
| The things that make up a good romantic relationship include if my boyfriend/girlfriend and I: | ||||
| Get along | 25 (92.5%) | 69 (92%) | 0.92 | 0.01 |
| Regularly speak with one another | 22 (81.5%) | 64 (85.3%) | 0.64 | 0.05 |
| Spend a lot of time together | 18 (66.7%) | 31 (41.3%) | 0.02 | 0.22 |
| Feel emotionally close with each other | 23 (85.2%) | 55 (73.3%) | 0.21 | 0.12 |
| Kiss, hug, hold hands etc. | 17 (63%) | 52 (69.3%) | 0.54 | 0.06 |
| Engage in sexual behaviors together | 11 (40.7%) | 41 (54.7%) | 0.22 | 0.12 |
| Trust each other | 25 (92.6%) | 71 (94.7%) | 0.69 | 0.04 |
| Are affectionate toward each other | 23 (85.2%) | 65 (86.7%) | 0.85 | 0.02 |
| Speak about our feelings and emotions to each other | 19 (70.4%) | 66 (88.0%) | 0.035 | 0.21 |
| Go on dates together | 18 (66.7%) | 47 (62.7%) | 0.71 | 0.04 |
| Have exactly the same interests | 19 (70.4%) | 32 (42.7%) | 0.014 | 0.24 |
| Do nice things for each other so that it's fair | 22 (81.5%) | 59 (78.7%) | 0.76 | 0.03 |
| Looks after me and provides for me | 22 (81.5%) | 64 (85.3%) | 0.64 | 0.05 |
| I look after and provide for my boyfriend/girlfriend | 21 (77.8%) | 63 (84.0%) | 0.47 | 0.07 |
| Have open and honest conversations with each other | 24 (88.9%) | 73 (97.3%) | 0.08 | 0.17 |
| Sexual interests and desires | ||||
| I would like to have a boyfriend or girlfriend in the near future | 24 (88.9%) | 67 (89.3%) | 0.95 | 0.01 |
| I am, or have been sexually attracted toward someone | 21 (77.8%) | 71 (94.7%) | 0.01 | 0.25* |
| I would like to have sex with others | 21 (77.8%) | 70 (93.3%) | 0.03 | 0.22 |
| I want to be in a sexual relationship with another person | 14 (51.9%) | 61 (81.3%) | 0.003 | 0.30** |
| I think that I will be in a sexual relationship in the future | 25 (96.2%) | 70 (95.9%) | 0.95 | 0.01 |
| My level of interest in sex and sexual topics is about the same or more than other people my age | 16 (59.3%) | 67 (89.3%) | 0.001 | 0.46** |
| I never or rarely think about sex and sexual behaviors: | 7 (25.6%) | 8 (10.6%) | 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 (7.4%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0.017 | 0.24 |
| I chatted with someone on a dating website at least once a week | 3 (11.1%) | 3 (4%) | 0.19 | 0.13 |
| I watch pornographic (explicit sexuality) photos or videos at least once a week | 4 (14.8%) | 12 (16%) | 0.89 | 0.01 |
| I masturbated watching pornographic (explicit sexuality) photos or videos at least once a week | 4 (14.8%) | 10 (13.3%) | 0.85 | 0.02 |
| Sexual strategies and motivations | ||||
| If I wanted to have casual sex with someone, I would (casual sex is having sex with someone without being a couple or engaged in a long-term romantic relation): | ||||
| Kiss them | 6 (22.2%) | 28 (37.3%) | 0.15 | 0.14 |
| Talk to them | 21 (77.8%) | 45 (60.0%) | 0.10 | 0.16 |
| Try to have the same interests as them | 7 (25.9%) | 5 (6.7%) | 0.008 | 0.26* |
| Give them something nice | 6 (22.2%) | 3 (4.0%) | 0.004 | 0.28* |
| Sit next to them | 10 (37.0%) | 23 (30.7%) | 0.54 | 0.06 |
| Watch them almost all of the time | 5 (18.5%) | 15 (20.0%) | 0.87 | 0.02 |
| Tease them to get their attention | 5 (18.5%) | 37 (49.3%) | 0.005 | 0.28* |
| Try to be around them almost all of the time | 6 (22.2%) | 15 (20.0%) | 0.81 | 0.02 |
| Ask them on a date | 8 (29.6%) | 39 (52.0%) | 0.046 | 0.20 |
| Tell others that I like the person | 5 (18.5%) | 18 (24.0%) | 0.56 | 0.06 |
| Tell them things about me that I think the other person will like | 10 (37.0%) | 12 (16.0%) | 0.02 | 0.23 |
| Touch them (arms, back, etc.) to show them I am interested in them | 8 (29.6%) | 27 (36.0%) | 0.55 | 0.06 |
| The reasons that I might have sex in the future (or have in the past) are: | ||||
| Because it feels good (Enjoyment) | 12 (44.4%) | 61 (81.3%) | 0.001 | 0.36** |
| For fun | 12 (44.4%) | 58 (77.3%) | 0.002 | 0.31** |
| Because we are friends | 0 (0%) | 6 (8%) | 0.13 | 0.15 |
| Because we are in relationships | 18 (66.7%) | 63 (84%) | 0.056 | 0.19 |
| To show that I love them | 8 (29.6%) | 23 (30.7%) | 0.92 | 0.01 |
| Because I feel like I have to | 2 (7.4%) | 3 (4.0%) | 0.48 | 0.07 |
| Because we are married | 1 (3.7%) | 15 (20%) | 0.046 | 0.20 |
| Reproduction (to have children) | 6 (22.2%) | 39 (52.0%) | 0.008 | 0.27* |
| Sexual/dyadic experience | ||||
| I have held another person's hand (someone that you liked or you were interested in) | 25 (92.6%) | 68 (90.7%) | 0.76 | 0.03 |
| I have hugged another person | 27 (100%) | 73 (97.3%) | 0.39 | 0.09 |
| I have kissed another person on the lips (mouth closed) | 21 (77.8%) | 67 (89.3%) | 0.14 | 0.15 |
| I have French kissed someone (includes use of tongue) | 16 (63%) | 62 (82.7%) | 0.04 | 0.21 |
| I have had some form of sexual experiences (e.g., touching another sexually, foreplay, any sexual activity, oral sex, sexual intercourse, etc.) | 16 (59.3%) | 64 (85.3%) | 0.005 | 0.28* |
| Have you ever had a boyfriend or girlfriend? | 22 (81.5%) | 62 (82.7%) | 0.89 | 0.01 |
| I enjoy using pornographic materials | 12 (44.4%) | 36 (48%) | 0.75 | 0.03 |
| Negative sexual experiences/worries | ||||
| I have agreed to have sex with someone and regretted it afterward | 12 (44.4%) | 30 (40%) | 0.69 | 0.04 |
| I have agreed to have sex with someone that I didn't really want to | 13 (48.1%) | 31 (41.3%) | 0.54 | 0.06 |
| I have been the victim of unwanted sexual advances or behaviors from others | 14 (51.9%) | 24 (32%) | 0.07 | 0.18 |
| I have initiated a sexual behavior with someone, even though I didn't really want to | 11 (40.7%) | 19 (25.3%) | 0.13 | 0.15 |
| I have been teased or victimized by other people because I didn't know as much about sex as they did | 7 (25.9%) | 11 (14.7%) | 0.19 | 0.13 |
| I am worried that my sexual behaviors might be misunderstood by other people | 8 (30.8%) | 11 (15.1%) | 0.08 | 0.18 |
| I worry that I may be taken advantage of | 13 (50.0%) | 31 (42.5%) | 0.51 | 0.07 |
| Sexual education | ||||
| I don't know much/I would like to know better about sexuality | 11 (40.7%) | 14 (18.7%) | 0.02 | 0.23 |
| I know about the same/I know much more or much about sexuality than most people my age | 27 (59.3%) | 61 (81.3%) | 0.04 | 0.22 |
| It was easy for me to understand the sex-education that I received | 9 (33.3%) | 59 (78.7%) | 0.000 | 0.42** |
| I would like to know more about sexuality and sexual health | 14 (51.9%) | 41 (54.7%) | 0.80 | 0.03 |
| Who taught you what things and actions should be done in private? | ||||
| My parents | 14 (51.9%) | 42 (56.0%) | 0.71 | 0.04 |
| My brother/s or sister/s | 3 (11.1%) | 3 (4.0%) | 0.18 | 0.13 |
| My friends | 5 (18.5%) | 25 (33.3%) | 0.15 | 0.14 |
| My grandparents | 0 (0.0%) | 4 (5.3%) | 0.22 | 0.12 |
| My teachers | 11 (40.7%) | 18 (24.0%) | 0.10 | 0.16 |
| My counselor/support worker | 6 (22.2%) | 6 (8.0%) | 0.049 | 0.19 |
| People on TV or movies | 10 (37.0%) | 24 (32.0%) | 0.63 | 0.05 |
| I learnt on my own/worked it out for myself | 15 (55.6%) | 44 (58.7%) | 0.78 | 0.03 |
| I have mostly learnt about sex-related topics from: | ||||
| My parents | 4 (14.8%) | 8 (10.7%) | 0.57 | 0.06 |
| My brother/s or sister/s | 1 (3.7%) | 0 (0%) | 0.09 | 0.17 |
| My friends | 4 (14.8%) | 26 (34.7%) | 0.05 | 0.19 |
| School | 8 (29.6%) | 17 (22.7%) | 0.47 | 0.07 |
| Reading (books, magazines) | 3 (11.1%) | 4 (5.3%) | 0.31 | 0.10 |
| Services such as counseling or community program | 1 (3.7%) | 1 (1.3%) | 0.47 | 0.08 |
| TV/movies/Internet | 3 (11.1%) | 11 (14.7%) | 0.65 | 0.05 |
| None | 1 (3.7%) | 4 (5.3%) | 0.74 | 0.03 |
| I have been taught the importance of: | ||||
| Use contraception (e.g., condoms, contraceptive pill, etc.) | 26 (96.3%) | 75 (100.0%) | 0.09 | 0.17 |
| Having tests for sexually-transmitted infections (STI's) | 23 (85.2%) | 69 (92.0%) | 0.31 | 0.10 |
| Not making important decisions about sexual activities while affected by alcohol or drugs | 23 (85.2%) | 66 (88.0%) | 0.71 | 0.04 |
| The sexual activities that should be engaged in only in privacy are: | ||||
| Kissing someone | 3 (11.1%) | 2 (2.7%) | 0.08 | 0.17 |
| Touching someone in a sexual way | 25 (92.6%) | 64 (85.3%) | 0.33 | 0.10 |
| Undressing the person | 26 (96.3%) | 71 (94.7%) | 0.77 | 0.03 |
| Sexual behaviors (other than sexual intercourse) | 24 (88.9%) | 67 (89.3%) | 0.95 | 0.006 |
| Sexual intercourse | 25 (92.6%) | 67 (89.3%) | 0.63 | 0.05 |
| Sexual identity and orientation | ||||
| I clearly identify myself as the gender that I was born | 19 (70.4%) | 70 (93.3%) | 0.002a | 0.30** |
| I consider myself as transgenderb | 4 (14.8%) | 2 (2.7%) | 0.02 | 0.23 |
| I consider my sexual orientation to be: | ||||
| Heterosexual (attracted to people of the opposite sex) | 17 (63.0%) | 52 (69.3%) | 0.54 | 0.06 |
| Homosexual (attracted to people of the same sex) | 1 (3.7%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0.09 | 0.17 |
| Bisexual (attracted to people of both sex) | 5 (27.9%) | 17 (22.7%) | 0.73 | 0.03 |
| Asexual (attracted to neither sex) | 1 (3.7%) | 1 (1.3%) | 0.45 | 0.08 |
| Questioning (not sure who I am attracted to) | 1 (3.7%) | 5 (6.7%) | 0.58 | 0.06 |
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.
*
5Near medium effect size (0.25–0.29).
**
Medium effect size (0.30 and over).