Determination of sexual developmental characteristics of adolescents with intellectual disabilities

Abstract

This cross-sectional study was carried out in order to determine the opinions of mothers on sexual development in children with intellectual disabilities. The sampling of this study included mothers of children aged 10–19 years with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities. Of the mothers, 45.7% stated that they felt incapable of providing sexual education to their adolescent children with disabilities and 97.6% stated that they had received no information on this subject themselves. Based on the mothers’ opinions, the mean score for the sexual development of adolescent children was 11.33 ± 16.18. In the sub-dimensions of sexual arousal (20.97 ± 5.71), sexual harassment (12.22 ± 3.13), sexual satisfaction (15.79 ± 3.85) and sharing sexual issues (12.74 ± 2.67) the mean score of the scale was found to be high. The knowledge levels of the mothers concerning the sexual development of their children with intellectual disabilities were found to be low, and they required education on this issue.

Effects of Aquatic Interventions on Physical Health Indicators in People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Review

“…In seven studies, [5,6,12,[16][17][18][19], only regular swimming was involved. In five studies, swimming formed a part of an aquatic intervention program [20][21][22][23][24].…”

“…The authors of [6,12] found that swimming for 30-90 min, 3 days per week, for 8-33 weeks, resulted in reduced body mass. However, other researchers [18,19] found that swimming for 60 min, 3 days per week, for 10-16 weeks did not affect body mass [18,19]. Similarly, some studies found that swimming for 50-90 min, 3 days per week, for 33-36 weeks resulted in decreased BMI [5,6,12], while other studies concluded that swimming for 45-60 min, 2-3 days per week, for 12-16 weeks, did not affect BMI values [16,17,19].…”

“…One study showed an improvement [17], but others found it to be unchanged [6,12]. Researchers also found that, after a 10-12-week period of swimming sessions lasting 45-60 min, 2-3 times per week, cardiorespiratory fitness, strength, jumping from standing, running speed, water skills, motor accuracy, motor integration, manual dexterity, balance, coordination, and agility were all unaffected [16,18].…”

The Dimensions of Quality of Healthcare of Children/Adolescents with Disabilities

“…»to be continued« Use of a unified communication system, including pictorial aids and easyto-read texts, as an aid to patient-centred communication and the healthcare process. Top (2022) Sexual health education for adolescents with disabilities and their mothers leads to more effective sexual health management for this group of adolescents. Woodman, Simon, Hauari, & Gilbert (2020) Involving parents in their child's healthcare.…”

“…), which is particularly necessary in cases where parents have no one close by to support them or where there is social isolation (Taylor, Kong, Foster, Badawi & Novak, 2022), as well as when topics are not part of the routine (e.g. sex education for adolescents with disabilities) (Top, 2022). Collaboration during the healthcare process is important both between providers and children/adolescents and their parents (Arcuri et al, 2015; Woodman, Simon, Hauari, & Gilbert, 2020), involving professionals from different disciplines has an impact on treatment success (Morris, Muskat, & Greenblatt, 2018).…”