Attitudes of caretakers toward the sexual behavior of mentally retarded persons

Abstract

A multidimensional questionnaire was administered to staff members at three residential facilities for retarded persons to determine their attitudes toward the actual and potential sexual behavior of retarded persons. The questionnaire covered the areas of masturbation and heterosexual and homosexual behavior. Dimensions were scaled to reflect progressively more intimate behavior so that acceptability of each response along the dimensions could be assessed. A mean of 31.2 percent of those questioned felt that no sexual behavior, not even simple physical contact, was acceptable for retarded persons. This indicates that sex-education programs for retarded persons may be met with resistance by a substantial percentage of staff. Among those staff members who found it acceptable for retarded people to engage in sexual behavior, peak acceptability occurred for heterosexual behavior. Sexual behavior in public, especially public masturbation, was considered a significant problem. More specific effects were identified, and the implications of these results for educational programs and the development of intervention procedures were discussed.