Sexual health and well-being: A study of autistic youth in Canada

Sexual health and well-being are important components of overall well-being and quality of life. Yet, little is known about autistic persons’ self-reported sexual health and well-being in Canada. In the current study, 3,551 youth aged 16–24 from across Canada were surveyed, including 419 youth who reported an autism diagnosis or self-identified as autistic. We examined demographic and sexual health data from autistic youth and assessed differences/similarities with non-autistic youth on key indicators. A significantly greater percentage of autistic youth reported a transgender identity (22.5% vs. 1.9%), an asexual identity (7.0% vs. 2.7%), and an LGBQ+ sexual orientation (55.6% vs. 22.3%), compared to non-autistic youth. Autistic youth were just as likely as non-autistic youth to value sexual pleasure. On average, autistic youth rated their sexual health as “good,” and many were happy with their sexual lives. Half were in a committed relationship, and autistic youth in relationships were generally sexually and emotionally satisfied in their relationships. Many had engaged in partnered sexual behaviours (e.g., touching genitals, oral sex, penis–vagina sex), with a higher percentage of autistic youth reporting that they had ever had penis–anal sex (30.8% vs. 22.6%). Autistic youth and non-autistic youth reported similar condom/barrier use for most sexual behaviours. The implications of these findings for sexual health promotion with autistic youth are discussed.