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Staff characteristics and attitudes towards the sexuality of people with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- MEANEY-TAVARES Rebecca, GAVIDIA-PAYNE Susana
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 37(3), September 2012, pp.269-273.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
People with learning disabilities often experience difficulties in correctly interpreting behavioural cues which may have detrimental outcomes with respect to their expression of sexuality. The identification of individual staff characteristics that have a relationship with specific attitudes of staff caring for people with learning disabilities may enable targeted training and better support. In this study, 66 participants from services for people with learning disabilities in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia, completed a survey, including the Attitudes to Sexuality Questionnaire. Findings revealed that staff attitudes towards the sexuality of people with learning disabilities were quite positive. Age, programme agency position, and training uptake were all associated with positive staff attitudes. The authors concluded that targeted training programmes in sexuality can benefit direct care workers in general and older staff more specifically. Implications for training and practice are discussed.
Sexuality: policies, beliefs and practice
- Authors:
- MURRAY J., MacDONALD R., LEVENSON V.
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 6(1), 2001, pp.29-35.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Is the law inhibiting relationships?
- Author:
- LETTS Penny
- Journal article citation:
- Community Living, 8(1), July 1994, pp.10-11.
- Publisher:
- Hexagon Publishing
The aim of the law is to provide protection but this assumption and the consequent unlawfulness of sexual intercourse has the effect of inhibiting relationships between adults with a learning disability. The law may also prevent carers and other staff from assisting and advising adults with a learning disability to be able to experience a sexual relationship.
Changing staff attitudes to the sexuality of people with mental handicaps: an evaluative comparison of one and three day workshops
- Authors:
- ROSE John, HOLMES Sophie
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Handicap Research, 4(1), 1991, pp.67-79.
- Publisher:
- BIMH Publications
“They just said inappropriate contact.” What do service users hear when staff talk about sex and relationships?
- Authors:
- GRACE Nici, GREENHILL Beth, WITHERS Paul
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 33(1), 2020, pp.39-50.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Research into how people with intellectual disabilities (ID) pursue intimate relationships in care settings presents some contradictory findings; despite increasingly liberal staff views, service users experience significant restrictions. This study attempts to explore this gap within a secure hospital, examining service user's representations of staff discourses about sexuality and intimate relationships. Method: Semi‐structured interviews with eight service users with intellectual disability were analysed using critical discourse analysis. Results: Analysis enabled construction of 11 themes falling into three categories. Dominant discourses appeared to maintain the integrity of the institution, enable staff to occupy a position of power and demonstrate service users’ responses to perceived control. Conclusions: Discourses around sex appear to serve the interests of staff and the hospital, while being restrictive and often incomprehensible to service users. Implications for service development, and future research directions, are considered in the context of “Transforming Care.” (Publisher abstract)
Staff attitudes towards sexuality in relation to gender of people with intellectual disability: a qualitative study
- Authors:
- YOUNG Rhea, GORE Nick, McCARTHY Michelle
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 37(4), December 2012, pp.343-347.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The aim of this study was to examine whether the gender of people with intellectual disability affects the attitudes of staff regarding their sexuality. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 people (7 female, 3 male) who worked directly with adults with intellectual disability in a variety of capacities. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts identified 3 themes: women are perceived as sexually innocent, men as more sexually motivated, and motivations for intimate relationships are perceived to differ between men and women with intellectual disability. The article presents the results with examples from the interviews. The authors report that the study indicates unfavourable attitudes towards sexuality in individuals with intellectual disability that correlate with traditional, restricted gender stereotypes, and suggest that their findings highlight the importance of considering gender when supporting the sexuality of people with intellectual disability.
Intellectual disability and sexuality: attitudes of disability support staff and leisure industry employees
- Authors:
- GILMORE Linda, CHAMBERS Brooke
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 35(1), March 2010, pp.22-28.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper suggests that the general attitudes of support staff and others in the community towards the sexuality of individuals with an intellectual disability have the potential to influence opportunities for normalised life experiences in the area of sexuality. A sample of 169 disability support staff and 50 employees from leisure and service industries, in Queensland, Australia, completed the Attitudes to Sexuality Questionnaires. It compared individuals with an intellectual disability, and individuals from the general population. Findings indicated that support staff and leisure workers reported generally positive attitudes towards the sexuality of individuals with an intellectual disability, but men were seen as having less self-control than women. Support staff were more cautious in their views about parenting, and both groups considered a lower level of sexual freedom to be desirable for women with an intellectual disability compared to women who are developing typically. The authors concluded that the attitudes of both groups were generally quite positive in relation to intellectual disability and sexuality.
An evaluation of staff attitudes towards the sexual activity of people with learning disabilities
- Author:
- HOLMES Maria
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61(3), March 1998, pp.111-115.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This article presents part of a study which aimed to evaluate staff attitudes towards the sexual activity of people with learning disabilities. Presents the first of part of the research which involved questionnaires containing a 20-item attitude rating scale and open and closed questions being sent to both clinical and non-clinical staff. Although some conservative attitudes remain, the results highlight a liberal trend in attitudes. Many staff identified a need to change hospital policy, provide more staff training and improve condom availability. Methodological issues are also discussed.
Not such an 'ordinary' relationship: the role of women support staff in relation to men with learning disabilities who have difficult sexual behavior
- Authors:
- THOMPSON David, CLARE Isabel, BROWN Hilary
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 12(4), September 1997, pp.573-592.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Brings together preliminary data on the management of men with learning disabilities who have unacceptable/abusive sexual behaviour patterns with a small pilot study which specifically explores the roles of women support workers in relation to difficult sexual behaviour. The studies explore with staff the boundaries of what is considered acceptable sexual behaviour and how breaches of these are responded to within services.
Sex and the 3 Rs: rights, responsibilities and risks; a sex education package for working with people with learning difficulties
- Authors:
- McCARTHY Michelle, THOMPSON David
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Publication year:
- 1996
- Pagination:
- 88p.
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
Teaching pack accompanied by a booklet containing illustrations. Aimed at staff working with adults with a wide range of learning difficulties who need to address issues of sexuality and sex education. Emphasises throughout the right of people with learning difficulties to express their sexuality, but at the same time behaving responsibly.