Evidence That Nine Autistic Women Out of Ten Have Been Victims of Sexual Violence.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Research indicates that sexual violence affects about 30% of women in the general population and between two to three times as much for autistic women.

Materials and methods

We investigated prevalence of sexual abuse, autistic traits and a range of symptoms, using an online survey addressed to the women of the French autistic community (n = 225). We assessed victimization through an open question and through a specific questionnaire, derived from the Sexual Experiences Survey-Short Form Victimization.

Results

Both case identification methods yielded high figures: 68.9% victimization (open question) compared to 88.4% (standardized questionnaire). Two thirds of the victims were very young when they were first assaulted: among 199 victims, 135 were aged

SUBMITTER: Cazalis F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9087551 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature