Attitudes of Direct Support Staff regarding Couple Relationships of Adults with Intellectual Disability: Implications for the Provision of Support

Supporting Adults with Intellectual Disabilities with Relationships and Sex: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Research with Staff

“…Assigned scores and global ratings are illustrated in Table 1. Five studies received "high" global quality ratings [27,31,32,48,49], nine received "moderate" global quality ratings [29,[50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57] and two received "low" global quality ratings [30,58]. Butler and colleagues [41] recommend that studies scoring less than six be excluded from reviews.…”

“…Fewer studies focused on the emotional or social value of relationships in the lives of individuals with ID. Those who did, described involvement in sexual and romantic relationships as not only meeting physical needs, but also as having the potential to meet a range of emotional and social needs for individuals with ID [27,31,49,54,57]. For example, involvement in relationships was in some cases described as reducing loneliness and giving the individual a sense of shared purpose: "I'm really in favour of their relationships.…”

“…Furthermore, since the publication of all three reviews, a number of qualitative research studies concerned with staff experiences in relation to their role of supporting the sexuality of adults with ID have been published [27][28][29][30][31][32]. In their discussion regarding the necessity of updating qualitative systematic reviews, France and colleagues [33] concluded that the emergence of new research, potentially contributing novel concepts, warrants an update.…”

Parents' perceptions regarding couple relationships of their adult children with intellectual disabilities

“…With regard to the notion that participating in a couple relationship is a way for adults with intellectual disabilities to live a more typical way of life, it is important to take into account that in Israel, living in couple relationships is considered normative and cohabitation of adults with intellectual disabilities is widely accepted (Lavee & Katz, 2003). A previous study done in Israel showed that direct support staff working with adults with intellectual disabilities saw it as their role to assist them in achieving and maintaining couple relationships, as a way to assist them in gaining a more normative lifestyle (Neuman, 2018). Interpersonal relationships are important avenues for obtaining additional social skills, improving existing abilities and advancing the development of social adjustment (Heiman, 2000;McVilly et al, 2006).…”

“…Couple relationships of adults with intellectual disabilities should first and foremost be acknowledged as an option by those around them, and thereby nurtured and accessible as a legitimate part of life, not merely as a rehabilitation mechanism in service of normalization (Neuman, 2018 Finally, while parents see their sons and daughters as childish and lacking in social skills, they prefer to no longer assist them in improving social interactions and independence. Couple relationships of adults with intellectual disabilities should first and foremost be acknowledged as an option by those around them, and thereby nurtured and accessible as a legitimate part of life, not merely as a rehabilitation mechanism in service of normalization (Neuman, 2018 Finally, while parents see their sons and daughters as childish and lacking in social skills, they prefer to no longer assist them in improving social interactions and independence.…”