Journal Article

The Impact of Stigma, Autism Label and Wording on the Perceived Desirability of the Online Dating Profiles of Men on the Autism Spectrum

Gavin, J., Brosnan, M.

2021

Overview

Those seeking romantic relations are increasingly using online dating sites, including young men on the autism spectrum. This study presented dating profiles with and without an explicit label of autism and positive or negative wording to 306 ‘females seeking a male partner’. Participants assessed the men’s dating profiles in terms of perceived attractiveness, trustworthiness and desire-to-date. They also completed a questionnaire on their level of stigmatisation of, and familiarity with, autism. An explicit autism label and positive wording positively impacted perceived attractiveness. With positively worded profiles, those with highly stigmatising views reported decreased desire-to-date when an explicit label of autism was present; those with low levels of stigmatising reported increased desire-to-date when an explicit autism label was present.

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Attraction / Autism / Autism Spectrum Disorder / Autistic Disorder / Behavioral Science and Psychology / Child and School Psychology / Credibility / Dating / Dating (Social) / Dating services / Demographic aspects / Desire / Diagnosis / Familiarity / Female / Humans / Influence / Internet / Interpersonal Attraction / Interpersonal Relations / Interpersonal Relationship / Labeling / Labeling (of Persons) / Male / Males / Marriage / Men / Negative Attitudes / Neurosciences / Online dating / Original Paper / Pediatrics / Pervasive Developmental Disorders / Profiles / Psychology / Public Health / School Surveys / Social aspects / Social Bias / Social Stigma / Stigma / Stigma (Social psychology) / Surveys and Questionnaires / Wording / Young men