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
PMID 34240532WHAT IT FOUND
People with intellectual disabilities hold diverse views on sexuality, ranging from restrictive to supportive.
They value privacy and tailored sex education but fear staff disapproval. Therapists should assess individual attitudes rather than assuming a uniform lack of interest or capability.
Key findings
01Participants expressed both supportive and restrictive attitudes towards sexual behaviour, including views on consent and condom use.
02A major barrier to sexual expression was the fear of negative reactions from support staff and family, including potential removal from services.
03Participants desired sex education that matched their individual needs and maturity levels, covering topics like relationships and consent beyond just biology.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The interpretation of quotes was sometimes difficult because participants used generic terms like 'sex' or 'sexuality' without specifying the aspect they meant. The review only included studies in English, which may limit the generalisability of findings to other cultures. The severity of intellectual disability was not specified for 551 of the 913 participants, making it unclear how findings apply across the full spectrum of disability.
Declared interests
The authors declared no known conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that people with intellectual disabilities lack interest in sexuality or relationships. The review shows a wide range of attitudes, from active desire for intimacy to preference for solitude, and assumes a uniform 'lack of interest' or 'hypersexuality' is incorrect.