Challenges of having a loving partner: the views of adults with intellectual disabilities

Abstract

Background

Making decisions about feelings and relationships is a challenge for many people with intellectual disabilities (ID). The aim of this article is to explore their opinions regarding the difficulties they experience in relation to having a partner and living together.

Method

Nine advisers with ID with experience in inclusive research discussed issues about having a loving partner during 8 meetings. Discussions were recorded, and a thematic content analysis was conducted.

Results

The results show that the network of social relationships, control over one’s own intimate relationships, obtaining the right support and having training in couple relationships are key elements in people with ID having a satisfying couple relationship.

Conclusions

The research gives visibility to the difficulties that people with ID encounter in having intimate couple relationships and sheds light on the need to undertake actions that contribute to their right to intimate citizenship.

Keywords:

• people with intellectual disability
• loving partner
• couple relationships
• intimacy
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Acknowledgements

Participants Hulk, Adviser 2, Adviser 3, Adviser 4, Loren, Adviser 6, Adviser 7, Adviser 8 and Mariano; Bea Jiménez (support in some of the meetings and also transcribed the meetings). Prof. Susanna Rojas participated in one of the sessions, presenting her research to the advisers and thus contributing to the discussion.

Disclosure statement

No conflict of interest has been declared.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the MINECO (Spanish Public Science Foundation) (grants number EDU2014-55460-R and EDU2017-84989-R). The funding bodies have not imposed any restrictions on free access to or publication of the research data.