Staff characteristics and attitudes towards the sexuality of people with intellectual disability

Abstract

Background The identification of individual staff characteristics that have a relationship with specific attitudes of staff caring for people with intellectual disability (ID) may enable targeted training and better support.

Method Sixty-six participants from services for people with ID in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia, completed a survey, including the Attitudes to Sexuality Questionnaire (Individuals with an Intellectual Disability; Cuskelly & Gilmore, 2007).

Results Staff attitudes towards the sexuality of people with ID were quite positive. Age, program agency position, and training uptake were all associated with positive staff attitudes.

Conclusion Targeted training programs in sexuality can benefit direct care workers in general, and older staff more specifically. Emphasis is warranted in the area of training for managing male sexual behaviours.

Keywords:

• attitudes
• staff
• characteristics
• sexuality
• intellectual disability

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.