PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Mental Health

Vast majority of high-functioning adults with autism are interested in romantic relationships

by Roberta Jenkins
August 11, 2017
in Mental Health
(Photo credit: UC Riverside)

(Photo credit: UC Riverside)

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The majority of high-functioning adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have had or are interested in romantic relationships, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Adults with ASD without intellectual impairments often struggle to understand and take part in romantic relationships. This is because ASD individuals have difficulties interpreting body language, eye contact and facial expressions which can make social situations challenging. Little experience of friendship, difficulty making decisions, emotional disturbances and lack of flexibility also hamper an individual with ASD from forming romantic relationships.

Previous research has found that ASD individuals fall behind their peers in areas such as employment and relationships. Few people with ASD were found to be married or in a long-term relationship. However, these studies included ASD individuals both with and without intellectual impairment. It is therefore impossible to establish from these studies whether differences in ASD relationships are related to the disorder itself or intellectual impairments. Until now there has been little to no research focusing exclusively on romantic relationships in ASD individuals without intellectual impairment.

A team of scientists led by Sandra Strunz (Charité-Universitatsmedizin, Berlin) conducted a study including 229 ASD individuals without intellectual impairment. All participants completed a number of questionnaires concerning romantic relationship experience, desire to be in a romantic relationship and romantic relationship satisfaction.

The results showed that almost half the sample were in a romantic relationship at the time of the study and a further 29% of participants had been in romantic relationships previously. In terms of interest in romantic relationships, the majority of participants were interested in engaging in one and only 13% of participants who were not in a romantic relationship expressed no desire to be in one. This opposes previous studies that suggest ASD individuals are not interested in romantic relationships. In fact, 72% of single participants reported distress associated with not having a partner. Individuals who had a partner with ASD reported higher levels of relationship satisfaction, this is thought to be because both individuals share common needs such as social withdrawal so neither person will feel neglected if a lot of time is spent away from each other.

Overall, the study indicates that a large percentage of high-functioning adults with ASD report interest in romantic relationships. Participants reported that it is the barriers to initiating and maintaining relationships, rather than lack of interest that prevent romantic relationships from developing.

ShareTweetSendScanShareSharePinSend

Get all the latest updates on new psychology research with the free PsyPost app.
 


NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP

STAY CONNECTED

TRENDING

Children who play more video games show greater gains in intelligence over time, study finds

Young children are more irritable when their mother has emotion regulation difficulties

Psychopathic women who desire marriage are more likely to experience insults from their partner

New study suggests that psychopathic individuals tend to become even worse after age 50

New psychology research uncovers a “hidden source” of regret

Brain imaging study suggests that drinking coffee enhances neurocognitive function

RECENT

Study sheds light on the neurocognitive processes linked to perceiving social injustice during arrests of Black civilians

Children who play more video games show greater gains in intelligence over time, study finds

Study finds contrapposto poses in male models influence perceptions of attractiveness and masculinity

Young children are more irritable when their mother has emotion regulation difficulties

Women who dress provocatively are judged negatively by other women due to perceptions of promiscuity

  • Cognitive Science
  • COVID-19
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Drug Research
  • Conspiracy Theories
  • Meditation
  • Psychology of Religion
  • Aviation Psychology and Human Factors
  • Relationships and Sexual Health
Powered by

About

PsyPost is a psychology and neuroscience news website dedicated to reporting the latest research on human behavior, cognition, and society. (READ MORE...)

  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

No Result
View All Result
  • About
    • Newsletter signup form
  • Cart
  • Checkout
  • Contact
  • Contact us
  • My account
  • Privacy policy
  • Psychology news
  • PsyPost app privacy policy
  • Shop
  • SmartMag Home

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used.