Problematic sexual behaviors of adolescents with intellectual disability in Saudi Arabia: uncovering the hidden

Abstract

Problematic sexual behaviors signal the need to understand the thoughts and needs of adolescents with intellectual disability. This study investigates the experiences of the family members and teachers who must manage those issues. We employed a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to gain insight into the thoughts and perceptions of two mothers, three brothers, and seven teachers. We conducted in-depth, semistructured interviews and convened focus groups to collect data. The findings refer to the following themes: the forms that problematic sexual behavior takes, the feelings that are associated with it, its management, the detection of aberrant conduct, the identification of its causes, and suggestions for improvements. The findings may refine the academic understanding of the behaviors in question, of their causes, of the experiences of relatives and teachers, and of the means of addressing the attendant problems. This study may also prove useful to family members and teachers of individuals with intellectual disability. Further implications and recommendations that emerge from the findings are also discussed.