Young People with Intellectual Disability and Their Experiences with Intimate Relationships: a Follow-up Analysis of Parents’ and Caregivers’ Perspectives

Abstract

BackgroundResearch shows that people with intellectual disability both want and benefit from relationships. Caregivers play an important role in the development and maintenance of these relationships. Barriers to relationships include lack of privacy, inadequate sex education, and lack of public transportation.MethodThe sample included 42 primary caregivers of young people with intellectual disability aged 14 to 25. Interviews were evaluated with the qualitative content analysis.ResultsTwo-thirds of the caregivers reported the young people having had at least one relationship. The caregivers tended to minimize the importance of the young people’s relationships and reported, in equal measure, both positive and negative relationship skills. Caregivers described limited choice in terms of partner selection, lack of social opportunities, and low quality couple time. Parents face the detachment process with ambivalence and wish for a stable partnership for their children in the future.DiscussionYoung people with intellectual disability face barriers and limitations regarding intimate relationships. Some young people may keep their partnerships secret to avoid possible restrictions from their caregivers. Their time together is quantitatively high, but qualitatively poor due to a lack of transportation and inclusive services. Caregivers need to support the young people’s autonomy and take their relationships more seriously.