The effectiveness of a sex education program facilitating social skills for people with intellectual disability in Japan

Abstract

Background Sex education should include social skills, such as those that allow individuals to relate, socialise, and communicate with others, to assist people with intellectual disability (ID) to live life fully in the community.

Objectives We administered and investigated the effects of a program involving 8 interactive sex education sessions that were aimed at improving the social skills of people with ID.

Methods Participants were 17 people with ID and 17 control group participants in Japan. The evaluation was conducted with a questionnaire based on KiSS-18 (Kikuchi's Scale of Social Skills: 18 items; Kikuchi, 2007).

Results The score of KiSS-18 in the experimental group was 55.4 ± 12.9 before the administration of the program, as compared to a mean of 61.8 ± 13.2 after the program. A significant increase was identified. There was no significant difference between the first and second average score in the control group.

Conclusion The sex education program involving social skills training for people with ID had significant effects.

Keywords:

• social skills
• sex education program
• intellectual disability
• Japan

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our sincere thanks to the study participants, staff chiefs, staff of the two transition dormitories, and to the university students who participated as volunteers.