The longitudinal relation between childhood autistic traits and psychosexual problems in early adolescence: The Tracking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey study

Linda P. Dekker*, Catharina A. Hartman, Esther J.M. Van Der Vegt, Frank C. Verhulst, Floor V.A. Van Oort, Kirstin Greaves-Lord

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Individuals with autistic traits are considered to be prone to develop psychosexual problems due to their limited social skills and insight. This study investigated the longitudinal relation between autistic traits in childhood (T1; age 10-12 years) and parent-reported psychosexual problems in early adolescence (T2; age 12-15 years). In a general population cohort study (n = 1873; the Tracking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS)), autistic traits and psychosexual problems were determined. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate whether childhood autistic traits, in individuals displaying no psychosexual problems in childhood, predicted the presence of psychosexual problems in adolescence, while controlling for pubertal development and conduct problems. Higher levels of autistic traits at T1 significantly predicted mild psychosexual problems at T2, above and beyond pubertal development and conduct problems. Particularly two dimensions of autistic traits at T1 were significant predictors; i.e. 'reduced contact/social interest' and 'not optimally tuned to the social situation'. Children with autistic traits - especially those with limited social interest and social regulation problems - showed to have a higher risk to develop psychosexual problems, albeit mild, in early adolescence as reported by parents. Although we showed that autistic traits predict psychosexual problems, it is only one of multiple predictors.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)684-693
Number of pages10
JournalAutism
Volume19
Issue number6
Early online date5 Sept 2014
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2015

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This project was financially supported by the Sophia Children’s Hospital Fund (grant number 617, titled ‘Tackling Teenage: A Multicentre Study on Psychosexual Development and Intimacy in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder’). This research is part of the TRacking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS). Participating centres of TRAILS include various departments of the University Medical Center and University of Groningen, the Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, the University of Utrecht, the Radboud Medical Center Nijmegen and the Parnassia Bavo group, all in the Netherlands. TRAILS has been financially supported by various grants from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO (Medical Research Council program grant GB-MW 940-38-011, ZonMW Brainpower grant 100-001-004, ZonMw Risk Behavior and Dependence grants 60-60600-97-118, ZonMw Culture and Health grant 261-98-710, Social Sciences Council medium-sized investment grants GB-MaGW 480-01-006 and GB-MaGW 480-07-001, Social Sciences Council project grants GB-MaGW 452-04-314 and GB-MaGW 452-06-004, NWO large-sized investment grant 175.010.2003.005, and NWO Longitudinal Survey and Panel Funding 481-08-013, the Dutch Ministry of Justice (WODC), the European Science Foundation (EuroSTRESS project FP-006), Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure BBMRI-NL (CP 32)), and the participating universities.

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2014.

Research programs

  • EMC NIHES-04-55-01

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