Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-2018

DOI

10.1007/s10803-018-3556-3

Publication Title

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Volume

48

Issue

12

Pages

3974–3983

Abstract

Individuals with higher levels of the broad autism phenotype (BAP) have some symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Like individuals with ASD, people with higher-BAP may have fewer sexual experiences and may experience more same-sex attraction. This study measured BAP traits, sexual experiences, and sexual orientation in typically developing (TD) individuals to see if patterns of sexual behavior and sexual orientation in higher-BAP resemble those in ASD. Although BAP characteristics did not predict sexual experiences, one BAP measure significantly predicted sexual orientation, β = 0.22, t = 2.72, p = .007, controlling for demographic variables (R2 change = .04, F = 7.41, p = .007), showing individuals with higher-BAP also reported increased same-sex attraction. This finding supports the hypothesis that individuals with higher-BAP resemble ASD individuals in being more likely than TD individuals to experience same-sex attraction.

Comments

Web of Science: "Free full-text from publisher."

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018

Original Publication Citation

Qualls, L. R., Hartmann, K., & Paulson, J. F. (2018). Broad autism phenotypic traits and the relationship to sexual orientation and sexual behavior. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(12), 3974–3983. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3556-3

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