“Convenience with the Click of a Mouse”: A Survey of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder on Online Dating

Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have difficulty forming romantic relationships despite having motivation to establish them. The lack of success through traditional, face-to-face dating may lead to pursing relationships through other modalities, such as online dating, which present both advantages and disadvantages for the population. However, little is known about how adults with ASD utilize online dating services. Therefore, a preliminary survey on online dating in a sample of adults with ASD was conducted. Seventeen individuals with ASD participated in an online survey. Results indicated that slightly more than half of the sample used online dating services in the past with variable success. Additionally, participants discussed their opinions of online dating. The most frequently endorsed disadvantage of online dating was safety concerns. The results of the survey suggest that the population may benefit from additional research in learning how to navigate the online dating world successfully and safely.