The cognition of matters on health and sex in young people with intellectual handicaps: a study in Stockholm and Tokyo

Abstract

Young people with intellectual handicaps in Stockholm (35 boys and 33 girls) and Tokyo (66 boys and 43 girls) aged 15-16 years were interviewed during [1989][1990]. The questions concerned the areas: health in general, hygiene, the human body, growing up, and sex/interpersonal relationships. Each of the 35 items had a matching picture. The main findings concerned the variations in the cognition of matters on health and sex in young people with intellectual handicaps between and within the two cultures. The comparison between Stockholm and Tokyo indicated that the Stockholm young people on the whole more often gave high level and abstract answers about health and sex than did Tokyo young people. This tendency was especially marked within the area of the human body and sex/interpersonal relationships. Sex differences were also found within each capital concerning different areas of health and sex, especially within the Tokyo-group.

Parents' and teachers' praxes of and attitudes to the health and sex education of young people with mental handicaps: a study in Stockholm and Tokyo

“…Parents and teachers participating in this study were not randomly selected from each country. They were chosen on the basis that they had children with mental handicaps who were 15-16 years old and attended special schools in Stockholm and Tokyo (see Katoda 1991b). However, the samples should be representative for Stockholm and Tokyo parents and teachers of 15-16 year olds with mental handicaps, since all 15-16 year olds in Stockholm were selected and the selected special schools in Tokyo covered the whole Tokyo metropolitan area.…”

“…During the winter of 1989 and the spring of 1990, young people with mental handicaps aged 15-16 years in Stockholm and Tokyo were interviewed concerning their cognition of health including sex and interpersonal relationships (Katoda 1991b). During the same period of time, their parents and teachers were given a questionnaire regarding their attitudes to health including sex and interpersonal relationships.…”