“AN ASPERGER’S LOVE STORY”

Romantic Relationships

Maddy ReisGerzog Summer Intern Presentation

Research Question

To what extent do individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder feel fulfilled in their

romantic relationships?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (DSM V)

Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts as manifested by the following, currently or by history

Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used

for social interaction Deficits in maintaining and understanding

relationships

Loneliness, Social Relationships, And a Broader Autism Phenotype

Compared non-clinical undergraduate students on a scale measuring characteristics of ASD

Stronger autism phenotype Significantly more loneliness and fewer/shorter duration friendships

• No current best friend• Dating relationships of longer duration, begin at

similar ages (13-16)

*Do not necessarily prefer aloneness, but rather experience increased levels of loneliness related to lack of social skill and understanding*

Attachment Style

Attachment Styles: Secure Avoidant Ambivalent/Resistant Disorganized

Romantic Attachment Styles

ASD respondents were predominately insecurely avoidant in romantic attachment Up to 30% of non-clinical healthy young adults in dating, or

engaged in cohabiting premarital relationships reported an avoidant attachment style Thoughts of divorce are higher in insecurely attached

relationships 15% of adults with ASD are securely attached

AS spouses preferred self-sufficiency to intimacy and mistrusted own and partner’s dependency

Romantic attachment security has little influence over standard dimensions of marital and parenthood satisfaction

Mozart and the Whale

Mary and Jerry Newport

Look me in the eye: My life with Asperger’s

John Elder Robison and Family

The Journal of Best Practices

Author, David Finch and Family

Resources for the ASD community

Further Research?

References

Bashe, P. R., & Kirby, B. L. (2001). The oasis guide to Asperger syndrome: advice, support, insights, and inspiration. New York: Crown Publishers.

Bedrossian, L. E., & Pennamon, R. E. (2007). College students with Asperger syndrome: practical strategies for academic and social success. Horsham, Pa.: LRP Publications.

Byers, E. S., Nichols, S., Voyer, S. D., & Reilly, G. (2012). Sexual well-being of a community sample of high-functioning adults on the autism spectrum who have been in a romantic relationship. Autsim, 0, 1-16.

Cohen, M. R. (2011). Social Literacy: A Social Skills Seminar for Young Adults with ASDs, NLDs, and Social Anxiety . Baltimore, Maryland: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company .

Grossberg, B. N. (2012). Asperger's rules!: how to make sense of school and friends. Washington, DC: Magination Press.

Ingersoll, B. (2007). The Struggle For Intimacy: Relationships In Individuals With Asperger's Syndrome.. psycCRITIQUES, 52(29), 1-6.

Jobe, L., & Williamswhite, S. (2007). Loneliness, Social Relationships, And A Broader Autism Phenotype In College Students. Personality and Individual Differences, 42(8), 1479-1489.

Lau, W., & Peterson, C. C. (2011). Adults And Children With Asperger Syndrome: Exploring Adult Attachment Style, Marital Satisfaction And Satisfaction With Parenthood. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5(1), 392-399.

Marriage, S., Wolverton, A., & Marraige, K. (2009). Autism Spectrum Disorder Grown Up: A chart Review of Adult Functioning . Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 18(4), 322-328.

Newport, J., Newport, M., & Dodd, J. (2007). Mozart and the whale: an Asperger's love story. New York: Touchstone.

Ramisch, J. (2010). Marriage And Family Therapists Working With Couples Who Have Children With Autism. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 38(2), 305-316.

Robison, J. E. (2007). Look me in the eye: my life with Asperger's. New York: Crown Publishers.