title: Stalking, and social and romantic functioning among adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: We examine the nature and predictors of social and romantic functioning in adolescents and adults with ASD. Parental reports were obtained for 25 ASD adolescents and adults (13-36 years), and 38 typical adolescents and adults (13-30 years). The ASD group relied less upon peers and friends for social (OR = 52.16, p < .01) and romantic learning (OR = 38.25, p < .01). Individuals with ASD were more likely to engage in inappropriate courting behaviours (chi2 df = 19 = 3168.74, p < .001) and were more likely to focus their attention upon celebrities, strangers, colleagues, and ex-partners (chi2 df = 5 =2335.40, p < .001), and to pursue their target longer than controls (t = -2.23, df = 18.79, p < .05). These results show that the diagnosis of ASD is pertinent when individuals are prosecuted under stalking legislation in various jurisdictions.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Medicine, Nursing, and Behavioural Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia stokes@deakin.edu.au
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stokes
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001315:Australia; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003380:Courtship / Q000523:psychology*; D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008149:Love; D008297:Male; D009770:Obsessive Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010379:Peer Group; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D012951:Socialization