Naviguer dans les rencontres en ligne : expériences d'adultes autistes en matière de relations, de dévoilement et de sécurité

Titre original en anglais : Navigating Online Dating: Autistic Adults’ Experiences of Connections, Disclosure, and Safety

Gibbs, V., Edwards, C., Cai, R. Y., Love, A. M., & Pearson, A. (2026). Navigating Online Dating: Autistic Adults’ Experiences of Connections, Disclosure, and Safety. Autism in Adulthood. https://doi.org/10.1177/25739581261442064

Date de publication: 22/04/2026 Ajout dans AutiHub: 06/07/2026 Type: Article Langue de l’article: Anglais

Cette publication est intégrée dans AutiHub via :

Auteurs

Auteur·ices des publications
5
Auteur·ices de la publication identifié·es comme autistes
2 / 5 (40,0 %)

Résumé

Contexte : Les applications de rencontres sont un moyen courant de rencontrer des partenaires, mais on sait peu de choses sur la manière dont les adultes autistes utilisent et vivent ces plateformes. Les études existantes sont peu nombreuses, reposent sur de petits échantillons, et aucune ne s'est spécifiquement concentrée sur les décisions de dévoilement, les réponses au dévoilement ou les expériences de victimisation. Cette étude a examiné l'utilisation des applications de rencontres par des adultes autistes, en se concentrant sur les relations formées, les décisions concernant le dévoilement d'une identité autistique, les réponses reçues et les expériences de victimisation. Méthodes : Nous avons employé un plan à méthodes mixtes convergent, en utilisant un questionnaire en ligne pour recueillir des données quantitatives et qualitatives. Les participants admissibles étaient des adultes autistes, diagnostiqués par un professionnel ou s'auto-identifiant comme tels, ayant l'expérience de l'utilisation d'applications ou de sites web de rencontres. Au total, 102 participants ont rempli le questionnaire. Nous avons analysé les données quantitatives à l'aide de statistiques descriptives, de tests du chi carré et de tests U de Mann-Whitney. Nous avons analysé les réponses qualitatives en texte libre au moyen d'une analyse conventionnelle de contenu. Résultats : La plupart des participants (83,3 %) avaient rencontré quelqu'un en personne par l'intermédiaire d'applications de rencontres, formant des relations à long terme (49 %), à court terme (41,2 %) ou occasionnelles (43,1 %). Plus de la moitié (54,5 %) ont choisi de ne pas dévoiler leur identité autistique dans leurs profils, bien que certains l'aient dévoilée plus tard au cours des interactions. Le dévoilement était motivé par l'authenticité, le filtrage de partenaires compatibles et l'évitement des malentendus. Les raisons du non-dévoilement comprenaient la crainte de la stigmatisation et des préoccupations de sécurité. Les réponses au dévoilement allaient de l'acceptation et du dévoilement réciproque aux stéréotypes, au ghosting et à la stigmatisation. La victimisation était répandue : 40 % ont reçu des messages sexuellement explicites non désirés et 43 % ont signalé des violences verbales. Les femmes et les participants non hétérosexuels ont signalé des taux significativement plus élevés et une plus grande variété d'expériences de victimisation que les hommes et les participants hétérosexuels. Conclusion : Les applications de rencontres offrent aux adultes autistes des possibilités significatives de créer des liens, mais les exposent également à la stigmatisation et à la victimisation. Les décisions de dévoilement sont façonnées par la mise en balance de l'authenticité et de la sécurité. Les résultats soulignent la nécessité d'environnements de rencontres en ligne plus sûrs et plus inclusifs, ainsi que d'efforts sociétaux plus larges pour réduire la stigmatisation de l'autisme.

Background: Dating apps are a common way to meet partners, yet little is known about how autistic adults use and experience these platforms. Existing studies are few, consist of small samples, and none have specifically focused on disclosure decisions, responses to disclosure, or experiences of victimization. This study examined autistic adults’ use of dating apps, focusing on the connections formed, decisions about disclosing an autistic identity, responses received, and experiences of victimization. Methods: We employed a convergent mixed-methods design, using an online survey to collect quantitative and qualitative data. Eligible participants were autistic adults (professionally diagnosed or self-identified) with experience using dating apps or websites. In total, 102 participants completed the survey. We analyzed quantitative data using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and Mann–Whitney U tests. We analyzed qualitative open-text responses through conventional content analysis. Results: Most participants (83.3%) had met someone in person through dating apps, forming long-term (49%), short-term (41.2%), or casual connections (43.1%). More than half (54.5%) chose not to disclose their autistic identity in their profiles, although some disclosed later in interactions. Disclosure was motivated by authenticity, filtering for compatible partners, and avoiding misunderstandings. Reasons for nondisclosure included fear of stigma and safety concerns. Responses to disclosure ranged from acceptance and reciprocal disclosure to stereotyping, ghosting, and stigma. Victimization was widespread: 40% received unwanted sexually explicit messages, and 43% reported verbal abuse. Women and nonheterosexual participants reported significantly higher rates and a greater variety of victimization experiences than men and heterosexual participants. Conclusion: Dating apps provide autistic adults with meaningful opportunities for connection but also expose them to stigma and victimization. Disclosure decisions are shaped by weighing authenticity and safety. Findings highlight the need for safer, more inclusive online dating environments and broader societal efforts to reduce autism stigma.

Bibliographie citée par cette référence

Les références citées sont importées depuis des sources externes de métadonnées lorsqu’elles sont disponibles. La liste peut être partielle.

Vue d’ensemble de l’inclusion dans la bibliographie

Ces indicateurs décrivent la bibliographie citée importée pour cette publication. Les métriques de références citées utilisent le total des références citées comme dénominateur. Les métriques d’auteurices cité·es indiquent si elles utilisent toutes les occurrences d’auteurices cité·es ou seulement les occurrences rattachées à des auteurices déjà intégré·es à la base de données AutiHub. Ils utilisent les rattachements mis en cache entre les auteurices cité·es et les auteurices intégré·es à la base de données AutiHub. Dernier calcul : 16/08/2026 11:31.

Références citées
57
Nombre total de références citées intégrées pour cette publication.
Références citées avec un·e auteur·ice identifié·e comme autiste
9 / 57 (15,8 %)
Occurrences d’auteur·ices cité·es identifié·es comme autistes
17 / 223 (7,6 %)
Parmi les occurrences rattachées à des auteurices intégré·es à la base de données AutiHub : 17 / 95 (17,9 %). Auteurices cité·es distinct·es identifié·es comme autistes : 10 / 197 (5,1 %).
Occurrences citées rattachées à la base AutiHub
95 / 223 (42,6 %)
Auteurices cité·es distinct·es rattaché·es : 73 / 197 (37,1 %)
Occurrences rattachées, non identifiées comme autistes
78 / 95 (82,1 %)
Parmi les seules occurrences rattachées. Sur l’ensemble des occurrences d’auteurices cité·es : 78 / 223 (35,0 %). Auteurices cité·es distinct·es rattaché·es, non identifié·es comme autistes : 63 / 73 (86,3 %).
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