Improving psychosexual knowledge in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: pilot of the tackling teenage training program
Publication date
2015-06
Authors
Dekker, Linda P
van der Vegt, Esther J M
Visser, Kirsten
Tick, Nouchka T.
Boudesteijn, Frieda
Verhulst, Frank C
Maras, Athanasios
Greaves-Lord, Kirstin
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Supervisors
Document Type
Article
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Abstract
Previous studies have shown that psychosexual functioning in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is hampered and emphasize the need for a specialized training program tailored to their needs. Therefore, an individual training program was developed; the Tackling Teenage Training (TTT) program. The current pilot study systematically evaluated whether psychosexual knowledge increased after taking part in the TTT program, using a pre- and post-training design in 30 adolescents with ASD (77 % male, mean age = 14.80 years, mean intelligence = 96.96). Psychosexual knowledge increased significantly (pre-training total score: M = 25.74, SD = 6.20; post-training total score: M = 33.52 (SD = 2.78); F(1,29) = 65.20, p < .001). The TTT program may be useful to improve psychosexual knowledge and functioning in adolescents with ASD, yet these findings are preliminary, and a more elaborate controlled trial is needed.
Keywords
Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Child, Education, Female, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Humans, Male, Parents, Pilot Projects, Sexual Behavior, Young Adult
Citation
Dekker, L P, van der Vegt, E J M, Visser, K, Tick, N, Boudesteijn, F, Verhulst, F C, Maras, A & Greaves-Lord, K 2015, 'Improving psychosexual knowledge in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder : pilot of the tackling teenage training program', Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, vol. 45, no. 6, pp. 1532-1540. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2301-9