Brief Report: Sources of Sexuality and Relationship Education for Autistic and Neurotypical Adults in the US and a Call to Action

Sexuality and relationship education (SRE) occurs in many formats. In order to inform best practices, current trends of SRE sources must be characterized. Using an online survey of autistic and neurotypical adults in the United States, we compared eleven potential sources of SRE across nine content areas. Source use did not differ significantly across five of the content areas. Same-aged peers were consulted less often by the autistic adults for flirting, dating, and consent. For partnered sexual behavior, neurotypical adults reported consulting romantic partners significantly more often than autistic adults. Across all groups, use of the internet as a source of information was high. The need for improving SRE access based on existing trends is discussed.

Automated summary

This study compared the use of eleven potential sources of sexuality and relationship education (SRE) across nine content areas among autistic and neurotypical adults in the United States. Findings showed differences in source use, particularly in consulting same-aged peers and romantic partners. High internet use was consistent across all groups, indicating a need for improving access to SRE based on existing trends.