Improving psychosexual knowledge in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: pilot of the tackling teenage training program.
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.
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC-Sophia, Wytemaweg 8, Room KP 2881, 3015 CN, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, l.p.dekker@erasmusmc.nl.
Linda P
LP
Dekker
Esther J M
EJ
van der Vegt
Kirsten
K
Visser
Nouchka
N
Tick
Frieda
F
Boudesteijn
Frank C
FC
Verhulst
Athanasios
A
Maras
Kirstin
K
Greaves-Lord
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D004493:Education / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult