Document Type
Article
Source of Publication
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Publication Date
10-10-2025
Abstract
Purpose: Sexual Health Education (SHE) is an important issue for adolescents everywhere, including those with autism or Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) who live in the Arab world. These young people can become especially vulnerable if their sexual behaviour is inappropriate. Methods: The current studies explored the effectiveness of culturally attuned Behavioural Activation to enhance safeguarding five autistic young people, while at the same time, not abrogating safe and appropriate sexual behaviour. The intervention was delivered via telehealth services. Results: A significant decrease and eventually cessation of public masturbation (in four participants) and undressing others without their consent (in one participant) was observed. Conclusion: Findings are discussed in terms of adaptations to the intervention to suit the Arab culture, individual family preferences, as well as implication for SHE and the use of Behavioural Activation more generally.
DOI Link
ISSN
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
Keywords
Activity scheduling, Applied behaviour analysis (ABA), Arab world, Autism, Behavioural activation, Sexual health education, Telehealth
Scopus ID
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Saleh, Asmahan and Dillenburger, Karola, "Sexual Health Education for Autistic Adolescents in the Arab World: Can Culturally Sensitive Behavioural Activation Help with Inappropriate Sexual Behaviour?" (2025). All Works. 7558.
https://zuscholars.zu.ac.ae/works/7558
Indexed in Scopus
yes
Open Access
yes
Open Access Type
Hybrid: This publication is openly available in a subscription-based journal/series