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Conditionally Sexual: Men and Teenage Boys with Moderate to Profound Intellectual Disability

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Abstract

This article presents qualitative research data about the sexuality of men and teenage boys with moderate to profound intellectual disability. Research findings pointed to a conditional construct of sexuality based within a biopsychosocial framework. The notion Conditionally Sexual represents the perceived limitations, within a rights-based discourse, of these men and teenage boys’ sexuality. The limitations to person-centred service delivery from a policy vacuum in the area of sexuality and intellectual disability represents a major challenge for paid staff. We suggest that a move toward better understanding how to support such a conditional sexual construct will assist the development of a healthy masculine sexuality for men and boys with intellectual disability.

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Acknowledgments

This article is based upon the Doctoral studies of the first author which were supported by a University Postgraduate Award (UPA) through the Faculty of Medicine at The University of Sydney, plus a small grant from the Blue Mountains Health Trust. No restriction has been placed on free access to or publication of the research data.

Conflict of Interest

No conflicts of interest are declared.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, P.O. Box 170, Lidcombe, NSW, 1825, Australia

    Nathan J. Wilson, Roger J. Stancliffe & Russell P. Shuttleworth

  2. Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Ryde, NSW, Australia

    Trevor R. Parmenter

Authors
  1. Nathan J. Wilson
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  2. Trevor R. Parmenter
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  3. Roger J. Stancliffe
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  4. Russell P. Shuttleworth
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Correspondence to Nathan J. Wilson.

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Wilson, N.J., Parmenter, T.R., Stancliffe, R.J. et al. Conditionally Sexual: Men and Teenage Boys with Moderate to Profound Intellectual Disability. Sex Disabil 29, 275–289 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-011-9203-y

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