Abstract
The sexual expression of adults with intellectual disabilities can be hindered by negative attitudes towards their sexuality. This study aims to examine current attitudes of staff, family, community and students towards the sexuality of adults with intellectual disabilities and how sociodemographic variables may influence these attitudes. Three hundred and five participants completed an online questionnaire, including the ASEXID scale. Scores were highest for the normalising attitude and lowest for the negative attitude, with intermediate scores for the paternalistic attitude. Staff and university students exhibited a more normalising attitude than families and community. Community participants exhibited a more negative attitude than staff and students. Older age was associated with less normalising and more paternalistic attitudes. Being male was associated with a more negative attitude. These findings should be taken into account by professionals who support adults with intellectual disabilities when disseminating information and resources to other professionals or families on how to support these adults' sexuality. Intermediate scores on the paternalistic attitude may mediate difficulties in supporting adults with intellectual disabilities in their sexuality.
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