Full community integration includes normal socio-sexual development and expression. However, opportunities to experience healthy sexual development and expression are commonly limited for adults with mental retardation. This study evaluated attitudinal discrepancies among non-disabled community members (i.e., residential staff and individuals in early and late adulthood) regarding the acceptability of socio-sexual expression for persons with and without mental retardation. Results suggest that, across community groups, discrepancies between adults with and without mental retardation primarily concern attitudes toward marriage and parenthood. Relative to residential staff and those in early adulthood, individuals in late adulthood were more conservative in their attitudes toward socio-sexual behavior regardless of disability status. Different sexual expression standards for persons with and without mental retardation underscore the need for advocacy and effective community integration strategies.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AndersonD. B., & ShawS. L. (1994). Starting a support group for families and partners of people with HIV/AIDS in a rural setting. Social Work, 39, 135-139.
2.
AvenoA., & RenzagaliaA. (1988). A survey of attitudes of potential community training site staff toward persons with severe handicaps. Education and Training in Mental Retardation, 23, 213-223.
3.
BrantlingerE. A. (1985). Mildly mentally retarded secondary students' information about and attitudes toward sexuality and sexuality education. Education and Training of the Mentally Retarded, 20, 99-108.
4.
BruininksR. H., ChenT. H., LakinC., & McGrewK. S. (1992). Components of personal competence and community integration for persons with mental retardation in small residential programs. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 13, 463-479.
5.
BurchardS. N., HasaziJ. S., GordonL. R., & YoeJ. T. (1991). An examination of lifestyle and adjustment in three community residential alternatives. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 12, 127-142.
6.
ChapmanJ. W., & PitceathlyA. S. (1985). Sexuality and mentally handicapped people: Issues of sex education, marriage, parenthood, and care staff issues. Australia and New Zealand Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 10, 227-235.
7.
ColemanE. M., & MurphyW. D. (1980). A survey of sexual attitudes and sex education programs among facilities for the mentally retarded. Applied Research in Mental Retardation, 1, 269-276.
8.
CraftA., & CraftM. (1979). Handicapped married couples. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
9.
EdgertonR. B. (1967). The cloak of competence: Stigma in the lives of the mentally retarded. Berkeley: University of California.
10.
EdmonsonS., McCombsK. F., & WishJ. (1979). What retarded adults believe about sex. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 84, 11-18.
11.
FureyE. M., & NiesenJ. J. (1994). Sexual abuse of adults with mental retardation by other consumers. Sexuality and Disability, 12, 285-295.
12.
HargroveD. S., & BreazealeR. L. (1993). Psychologists and rural services: Addressing a new agenda. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 24, 319-324.
13.
HeldK. R. (1992). Ethical aspects of sexuality of persons with mental retardation. Sexuality and Disability, 10, 237-243.
14.
HenryD., KeysC., BalcazarF., & JoppD. (1996). Attitudes of community living staff members toward persons with mental retardation, mental illness, and dual diagnosis. Mental Retardation, 34, 367-379.
15.
IttenbachR. F., BruininksR. H., ThurlowM. L., & McGrewK. S. (1993). Community integration of young adults with mental retardation: A multivariate analysis of adjustment. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 14, 275-290.
16.
JohnsonP. R., & DaviesR. (1989). Sexual attitudes of members of staff. The British Journal of Mental Subnormality, 35, 17-21.
17.
KemptonW. (1972). Guidelines for planning a training course on human sexuality and the handicapped. Philadelphia: Planned Parenthood Association of South Eastern Pennsylvania.
18.
KemptonW. (1978). Sex education for the mentally handicapped. Sexuality and Disability, 1, 137-146.
19.
KemptonW., & KahnE. (1991). Sexuality and people with intellectual disabilities: A historical perspective. Sexuality and Disability, 9, 93-111.
20.
LunskyY., & KonstantareasM. M. (1998). The attitudes of individuals with autism and mental retardation towards sexuality. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 33, 24-33.
21.
MaklinR., & GaylinW. (1981). Mental retardation and sterilization: A problem of competency and paternalism. New York: Plenum.
22.
MattinsonJ. (1975). Marriage and mental handicap, (2nd ed). London: Institution of Marital Studies.
23.
McCabeM. P. (1993). Sex education programs for people with mental retardation. Mental Retardation, 31, 377-387.
24.
McCabeM., & CumminsR. A. (1996). The sexual knowledge, experience, feelings, and the needs of people with mild intellectual disability. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 31, 13-21.
25.
MonatR. K. (1982). Sexuality and the mentally retarded. San Diego: College Hill Press.
26.
MulhernT. J. (1975). Survey of reported sexual behavior and policies characterizing residential facilities for retarded citizens. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 79, 670-673.
27.
NiederbuhlJ. M., & MorrisD. (1993). Sexual knowledge and the capability of persons with dual diagnoses to consent to sexual contact. Sexuality and Disability, 11, 295-307.
28.
RacinoJ. A. (1995). Community living for adults with developmental disabilities: A housing and support approach. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 20, 300-310.
29.
ReesL. M., SpreenO., & HarnadekM. (1991). Do attitudes toward persons with handicaps really shift over time? A comparison between 1975 and 1988. Mental Retardation, 29, 81-86.
30.
SandlerA., & RobinsonR. (1981). Public attitudes and community acceptance of mentally retarded persons: A review. Education and Training of the Mentally Retarded, 16, 97-102.
31.
ShawC. H., & WrightC. H. (1960). The married mental defective: A follow-up study. Lancet, 1, 273-274.
32.
SinsonJ. C. (1994). Normalization and community integration of adults with severe mental handicaps relocated to group homes. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 6, 255-270.
33.
SloanW., & StevensH. (1976). A century of concern: A history of the American Association on Mental Deficiency 1876-1976. Washington, DC: American Association on Mental Deficiency.
34.
SmalleyK., CertoN. J., & GoetzL. (1997). Effect of a staff training package on increasing community integration for people with severe disabilities. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 32, 42-48.
35.
SundramC. J., & StavisP. F. (1994). Sexuality and mental retardation: Unmet challenges. Mental Retardation, 32, 255-264.
36.
TimmersR. L., DuCharmeP., & JacobG. (1981). Sexual knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of developmentally disabled adults living in a normalized apartment setting. Sexuality and Disability, 4, 27-39.
37.
WatsonG., & RodgersR. S. (1980). Sexual instruction for the mildly handicapped and normal adolescent: A comparison of educational approaches, parental expectations and pupils knowledge and attitude. Health Education Journal, 39, 88-95.
38.
WebsterS. K. (1994). A personal essay on sexuality and integration: Opportunity and challenge. Journal of Applied and Rehabilitation Counseling, 25, 59-61.
39.
WishJ. R., McCombsK. F., & EdmonsonB. (1980). The Socio-Sexual Knowledge and Attitudes Test. Wood Dale: Stoelting.
