Visie op seksualiteit van jongeren met een licht verstandelijke beperking en hun begeleiders.

Abstract

Background: Young people with mild intellectual disabilities (MID) seem to have negative feelings about sexuality and a low level of sexual knowledge and experience. Their vision is influenced by that of their caregivers. Their caregivers are often negative about sexuality in young people with MID. Aim: Gain more knowledge about the vision towards sexuality of youngsters with MID and compare it with the vision high school students. Furthermore, to gain more insight into the vision of professional caregivers about sexuality and relationships of youngsters with MID and behavioral problems who are treated in a residential facility. Methods: 27 youngsters with MID living in a residential institution and 138 high school students were included. For measuring the vision about sexuality, the Attitude, Behaviour, Experience and Knowledge questionnaire was used. 62 professional caregivers of youngsters with MID filled out the Sexuality and Mentally Retarded Attitude Inventory. Results: Youngsters with MID are moderately positive about sexuality. They have a neutral vision towards masturbation, watching porn, going to a prostitute and homosexuality. Girls are more negative than boys regarding heterosexual activities such as kissing, hugging and having sex. The vision of Youngsters with MID is more negative towards homosexual than about heterosexual acts. The outcomes of Youngsters with MID were compared with high school students. The high school students were slightly more positive about impersonal things (masturbation, watching pornography and going to a prostitute). The professional caregivers of the youngsters with MID have a moderately liberal vision towards sexuality by youngsters with MID. Their vision is not related with their educational level or age. Conclusion: Youngsters with MID have a moderately positive vision about sexuality. Youngsters with MID are slightly negative about homosexuality, but similar findings were found by high school students. The high school students were slightly more negative about impersonal things. The vision of the professional caregivers is overall positive.