Health-related risky behaviors in Chinese adolescents with autism: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Health-related risky behaviors (HRB) generally refer to behaviors that have a negative influence on health and quality of life. HRB in adolescents with autism have not been well understood so far. We aim to explore health-related risky behaviors and their risk factors with autistic adolescents. Methods In this study, 150 adolescents with autism and 150 neurotypical adolescents were enrolled. Participants in both groups completed the Adolescent Health-Related Risky Behavior Inventory (AHRBI). Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ), Wechsler Intelligence Scale, Theory of Mind (ToM) Test, Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Self-Esteem Scale (SES) were also assessed in the autism group to explore risk factors. Results The results showed that the total score of AHRBI and scores of "aggression and violence (AV)", "suicide or self-injury (SS)", "health-compromising behavior (HCB)", and "unprotected sex (US)" subscales in the autism group were significantly higher than those in the control group (Z value = − 4.58 ~ − 2.26, all P < 0.05). Anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, low IQ score, low ToM test score, increasing age, and communication disorder were found as risk factors for health-related risky behaviors in autistic adolescents. Conclusions Adolescents with autism have more health-related risky behaviors than neurotypical adolescents. We should pay attention to the emotional state, self-esteem, cognitive function, and verbal communication levels of autistic adolescent with health-related risky behaviors.

Measuring the prevalence of autistic traits in a cohort of adults living with HIV or taking HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and mapping safer-sex barriers and facilitators: a study protocol

“… 38 39 Furthermore, the elevated rates of sexual victimisation described in autistic individuals 40–43 might be associated with sexual risk behaviour later in life. 44–47 Besides the above-mentioned theoretical arguments supporting our hypothesis regarding the autism prevalence in people living with HIV and PrEP users, little published data support or contradict this hypothesis, since within the group of people with autism, both sexually transmitted infections (STI) rates higher, 48 similar or lower 27 49 than in the general population have been reported.…”

“…Furthermore, challenges in impulse control observed in certain autistic individuals 64 may increase the frequency of health-related unsafe behaviours. 48 Finally, the difficulties in the ability to monitor one’s own internal states sometimes observed in autism 65 may lead to unclear perceptions of own sexual boundaries, making some autistic individuals an easy-to-convince person for partners seeking hazardous types of sex.…”