Characteristics of harmful sexual behaviour in autistic adolescent males as compared to controls

Abstract

There is limited published data on how harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) by male adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may differ from their neurotypical peers. This study examines a population of male adolescents who had engaged in HSB and were referred for assessment to a New Zealand (NZ) regional treatment centre. Autistic individuals were compared to a control group who had no mental health or neurodivergent diagnosis or presented with only depression or anxiety on characteristics of the HSB. It was found that the autistic adolescents performed HSB against a greater mean number of victims. Although the two groups harmed similar mean numbers of victims by engaging in contact HSB, the ASD group harmed a significantly greater mean number of victims by engaging in non-contact HSB. This study provides novel findings and highlights the need for further research relating to autistic male adolescents who have engaged in HSB.