Relações amorosas e íntimas em adolescentes e adultos com perturbação do espetro do autismo
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2022
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A Perturbação do Espetro do Autismo (PEA) é uma perturbação do neurodesenvolvimento e
caracteriza-se, entre outros critérios, pela presença de comportamentos e interesses
repetitivos/estereotipados, e por dificuldades nas relações interpessoais e na comunicação
verbal e não-verbal com interferência em várias áreas do funcionamento, tal como nas relações
de intimidade e na sexualidade. Estudos preliminares revelam que, apesar da maioria desejar
relacionar-se com outras pessoas a nível íntimo, muitas pessoas com PEA tendem a isolar-se e
a adotar comportamentos sexuais solitários. Apesar da importância do tema, poucos estudos
debruçaram sobre o seu aprofundamento, nem incluíram as significações das pessoas com PEA
sobre relações amorosas e sexualidade. O presente estudo tem, assim, como principal objetivo
explorar as perceções e vivências das relações amorosas e intimidade em adolescentes e adultos
com PEA. O desenho é qualitativo, transversal e exploratório. Participaram no estudo 22
adolescentes e adultos com diagnóstico de PEA (63,6% do sexo feminino), aos quais foi
aplicada, individualmente, uma entrevista semiestruturada, construída especificamente para
este estudo. As entrevistas foram analisadas a partir da análise temática e com recurso ao
software NVivo. Os resultados realçam a presença de três temas principais. O primeiro foi as
Relações Amorosas e tem como subtemas o Desenvolvimento das relações, a PEA tem impacto
nas relações, Benefícios da relação, Caraterísticas das relações, Fim das relações, Caraterísticas
do parceiro e a Manutenção das relações. O segundo tema foi a Sexualidade que tem como
subtemas o (Des)Interesse sexual, a Masturbação, Toque, Hiper ou hipo sensibilidades e a
Atividade sexual. O terceiro foi a Educação sexual com os subtemas Conhecimento sexual,
Fontes de Informação, Educação sexual direcionada para as pessoas PN e a Intervenção na
sexualidade. Compreender as dificuldades e necessidades das pessoas com PEA permitirá
enriquecer a avaliação e a intervenção com jovens e adultos nesta área, assim como identificar
temas e ferramentas de educação sexual adaptadas a esta população. Os principais resultados
mostram que os sintomas da PEA afetam negativamente as vivências nas relações
amorosas/íntimas e na sua sexualidade. Desta forma, torna-se imperativo desenvolver um
programa de Educação sexual mais adequado e direcionado para as dificuldades apresentadas.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized among other criteria by the presence of repetitive/stereotypical behavior and interest and by difficulties in interpersonal relationships and verbal and non-verbal communication with interference in various areas of functioning, such as intimate relationships and sexuality. Preliminary studies reveal that although most wish to relate to other people on an intimate level, several people with ASD tend to isolate themselves and engage in lonely sexual behaviors. Despite the importance of the subject, few studies have looked at it in depth, nor included the meanings of people with ASD about love relationship and sexuality. The main objective of this study is to explore the experience of love relations and intimacy in teenagers and adults with ASD. The design is qualitative, transversal and exploratory. The study included 22 teenagers and adults diagnosed with ASD (63,6% female), to witch a semi-structured interview was applied individually, specifically constructed for this study. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analyses and NVivo software. The results highlight the presence of three main themes. The first was Love relationships and has as sub-themes Relationship’s development, Impact of ASD in relationships, Relationships benefits, Relationship’s characteristics, End of relationships, Partner characteristics and Maintaining relationships. The second theme was Sexuality, which as a subthemes Sexual (Dis)Interest, Masturbation, Touch, Hyper or hypo sensitivities and Sexual activity. The third was Sexual education with the sub-themes of Sexual knowledge, Information’s sources, Sex education for ND people and Intervention in sexuality. Understanding the difficulties and needs of people with ASD will enrich assessment and interventions with teenagers and adults in this area, as well as identifying sex education themes and tools adapted to this populations. The main results show that ASD symptoms negatively affect experiences in love/intimate relationships and in their sexuality. In this way, it becomes imperative to develops a more adequate Sex education program directed to the difficulties presented.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized among other criteria by the presence of repetitive/stereotypical behavior and interest and by difficulties in interpersonal relationships and verbal and non-verbal communication with interference in various areas of functioning, such as intimate relationships and sexuality. Preliminary studies reveal that although most wish to relate to other people on an intimate level, several people with ASD tend to isolate themselves and engage in lonely sexual behaviors. Despite the importance of the subject, few studies have looked at it in depth, nor included the meanings of people with ASD about love relationship and sexuality. The main objective of this study is to explore the experience of love relations and intimacy in teenagers and adults with ASD. The design is qualitative, transversal and exploratory. The study included 22 teenagers and adults diagnosed with ASD (63,6% female), to witch a semi-structured interview was applied individually, specifically constructed for this study. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analyses and NVivo software. The results highlight the presence of three main themes. The first was Love relationships and has as sub-themes Relationship’s development, Impact of ASD in relationships, Relationships benefits, Relationship’s characteristics, End of relationships, Partner characteristics and Maintaining relationships. The second theme was Sexuality, which as a subthemes Sexual (Dis)Interest, Masturbation, Touch, Hyper or hypo sensitivities and Sexual activity. The third was Sexual education with the sub-themes of Sexual knowledge, Information’s sources, Sex education for ND people and Intervention in sexuality. Understanding the difficulties and needs of people with ASD will enrich assessment and interventions with teenagers and adults in this area, as well as identifying sex education themes and tools adapted to this populations. The main results show that ASD symptoms negatively affect experiences in love/intimate relationships and in their sexuality. In this way, it becomes imperative to develops a more adequate Sex education program directed to the difficulties presented.
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Orientação: Ana Filipa Beato
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MESTRADO EM PSICOLOGIA CLÍNICA E DA SAÚDE, PSICOLOGIA, AUTISMO, SEXUALIDADE, ADOLESCENTES, ADULTOS, EDUCAÇÃO SEXUAL, PSYCHOLOGY, AUTISM, ADOLESCENTS, SEXUALITY, ADULTS, SEX EDUCATION