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Cited by 7Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchAdolescent Sexual and Reproductive HealthDown syndrome and intellectual disability research

Broad Perspectives of the Experience of Romantic Relationships and Sexual Education in Neurodivergent Adolescents and Young Adults

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Smusz, Magdalena, Allely, Clare S., Bidgood, Amy·2024·Sexuality and Disability
DOI 10.1007/s11195-024-09840-3
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Abstract

Neurodivergent young people tend to struggle with building and maintaining their romantic relationships. Despite this, there appears to be a lack of appropriate sexuality education delivered to them. This review aims to present and discuss the most current literature (conducted between 2015 and current) on romantic relationships and sexuality education in young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and ASD co-occurring with ADHD. Six internet-based bibliographic databases were used for the present review that followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Thirty-one studies were identified in this review. Twenty-six studies investigated the topic in the autistic young population. Four studies explored qualitatively and 11 quantitatively young people’s perspectives of their romantic relationship experiences. One study investigated qualitatively and three quantitatively young people’s perspectives on sexuality education. One study explored qualitatively and five quantitatively young people’s romantic relationship experiences and two explored qualitatively and three quantitatively sexuality education from caregivers’ perspectives. Five studies (all quantitative, self-reports) investigated romantic relationship experiences in the young population with ADHD. The studies conducted on the topic from the educational professionals’ perspectives were absent in the literature. The literature was also non-existent on the topic in the population with ASD co-occurring with ADHD. To the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first review exploring romantic relationships and sexuality education in three groups of neurodivergent young people (with ASD, ADHD, and ASD co-occurring with ADHD).

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  • Individuals with ADHD who experience positive and supportive relationships report lower levels of anxiety, depression, and social isolation.

    “Individuals with ADHD who experience positive and supportive relationships report lower levels of anxiety, depression, and social isolation (Ginapp et al. 2023; Halkett and Hinshaw 2021; Smusz et al. 2024).”

    From “I Felt Like a Burden”: An Exploration Into the Experience of Romantic Relationships for People With ADHD (2026) · cites this paper as Smusz et al. 2024

    The Introduction and Findings from Quantitative Research in the Population with ADHD (pages unavailable) discuss relationship difficulties among young people with ADHD, but do not link supportive relationships to lower anxiety, depression, or social isolation. Searches for those outcomes and positive or supportive relationships found no passage reporting the claimed association. (LLM, conf=0.76)

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Authors
Smusz, M., Allely, C. S., & Bidgood, A.
Affiliations
  • University of Salford (GB)
  • Liverpool John Moores University (GB)
Corresponding author
Smusz, Magdalena
ORCID
Venue
Sexuality and Disability
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2024-04-12
Volume
42
Issue
2
Pages
459-499
ISSN
  • 0146-1044 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-6717
DOI
10.1007/s11195-024-09840-3
OpenAlex
W4394753637
Cited by
7
References
102
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1
FWCI
1.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Sexuality and Disability (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Newman University Repository (Newman University) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • Liverpool John Moores University (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Down syndrome and intellectual disability research
Keywords
romantic relationships, sex education, neurodivergence, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, adolescents, young adults, relationship experiences, caregiver perspectives, youth perspectives

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