Attitudes towards sexuality and related caregiver support of people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review on the perspectives of people with intellectual disabilities.

Wouter De Wit,Wietske M W J Van Oorsouw,Petri J C M Embregts

doi:10.1111/jar.12928

Wouter De Wit, Wietske M W J Van Oorsouw + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12928

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Abstract

BackgroundSexual health remains at risk for people with an intellectual disability. Attitudes towards sexuality, its support and education have an important role in promoting sexual health. The current review aims to provide an overview of the current research on supportive and restrictive attitudes towards sexuality and its support of people with intellectual disabilities themselves.MethodA systematic review was conducted, searching across eight databases. The quality of the studies was assessed with the Mixed‐Method Appraisal Tool.ResultsSix themes emerged from the data: sexual behaviour, sexual identity, intimate relationships, barriers to sexual expression, sex education and support by caregivers. Supportive and restrictive attitudes were reported throughout.ConclusionsAttitudes regarding sexuality of people with intellectual disabilities are heterogeneous and people with intellectual disabilities seem to be able to express their sexual desires, needs and attitudes. Findings allow for improved individual support and in‐depth research questions.

Highlights

The sexual health of people with intellectual disabilities has been a subject of interest since the emergence of the normalisation movement in the 1970s (Ailey et al, 2003; McGuire & Bayley, 2011)
The current review aims to provide an overview of the current research on supportive and restrictive attitudes towards sexuality and its support of people with intellectual disabilities themselves
This review identified some studies in which people with intellectual disabilities: perceived sexual behaviour and intimate relationships as unpleasant, explicitly dismissed the notion of having a sexual relationship and/or seemed to have less favourable attitudes towards sexual behaviour (e.g., Bernert & Ogletree, 2013)

Summary

Introduction

The sexual health of people with intellectual disabilities has been a subject of interest since the emergence of the normalisation movement in the 1970s (Ailey et al, 2003; McGuire & Bayley, 2011). Sexual health has proven to be an elusive goal for some people with intellectual disabilities (Sinclair et al, 2015) because their access to sexual experiences can be restricted, and their knowledge and skills limited (Schaafsma et al, 2014; Servais, 2006). Concerning sexual experiences, people with intellectual disabilities are less likely to have had sexual relations than those without disabilities (Baines et al, 2018; Gil-Llario et al, 2018; Kijak, 2013). The current review aims to provide an overview of the current research on supportive and restrictive attitudes towards sexuality and its support of people with intellectual disabilities themselves. Findings allow for improved individual support and in-depth research questions

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