Defense Date
4-30-2020
Graduation Date
Summer 8-8-2020
Availability
Immediate Access
Submission Type
dissertation
Degree Name
PhD
Department
Counseling, Psychology, & Special Education
School
School of Education
Committee Chair
Dr. David Delmonico
Committee Member
Dr. Bridget Green
Committee Member
Dr. Matthew Joseph
Keywords
autism, sexuality, technology use, online dating, loneliness, boredom, sexual responsibility
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictors of sexual responsibilities (i.e., sex positivity and sexual health as well as sexual risk responsibility) for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. The predictors examined included boredom, loneliness, online risk behavior, intent to use dating apps/websites for casual sex, and intent to use dating apps/websites for romance. Gender differences in sexual responsibility subscales were also explored. ANOVAS yielded women with autism exhibited more sexual responsibility on both subscales than men. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine significant predictors of Sex Positivity and Sexual Health as well as Sexual Risk Responsibility for the population of interest. Loneliness significantly predicted Sex Positivity and Sexual Health via an inverse relationship. Online Risk Behavior and Intent to Use Dating Apps for Casual Sex predicted Sexual Risk Responsibility via an inverse relationship. Finally, three significant moderation relationships were found. Boredom was found to moderate the relationship between Online Risk Behavior and Sexual Risk Responsibility as well as the relationship between Intent to Use Dating Apps/Websites for Romance and Sexual Risk Responsibility. Loneliness also moderated the relationship between Intent to Use Dating Apps/Websites for Romance and Sexual Risk Responsibility. Notably, emotions significantly moderated relationships between technology use variables and Sexual Risk Responsibility only at average and above average levels of emotions. Limitations, implications for counselors, and directions for future research are discussed.
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Drozda, N. (2020). The Role of Boredom, Loneliness, and Technology Use as Predictors of Sexual Responsibility among Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1910