A meta-analytic review of attitudes towards the sexuality of adults with intellectual disabilities as measured by the ASQ-ID and related variables: Is context the key?
A B Correa, J D Moreno, A Castro
PMID 35968736WHAT IT FOUND
Attitudes towards the sexuality of adults with intellectual disabilities vary significantly by context.
Staff and general populations hold more favourable views than families. Higher socio-economic development and individualism correlate with more positive attitudes, while age and gender show no consistent link.
Key findings
01Sector workers and the general population hold more favourable attitudes towards sexual rights and parenting than family members.
02Participants from countries with higher socio-economic development (GDP per capita) and higher individualism scores report more favourable attitudes.
03Contrary to some previous reviews, neither the age nor the gender of the respondents was significantly related to their attitudes.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The analysis included only studies using the ASQ-ID, potentially excluding other relevant attitudinal data. The age range of participants across studies was narrow (mean ages 20-54), limiting the ability to detect age-related differences. General population responses may have been influenced by social desirability or political correctness rather than genuine attitudes. No risk of bias assessment was conducted for the included primary studies. The study relies on self-reported attitudes, which may not reflect actual behaviour or support practices.
Declared interests
The work was supported by the Government of Aragon and FEDER. All authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that family members' attitudes reflect the views of the general population or clinical staff. The data shows families are significantly less favourable towards sexual rights and parenting, so clinicians should not expect family support to align with staff norms without further discussion.