Let’s talk about sex: How people with intellectual disability in Australia engage with online social media and intimate relationships

Abstract

People with intellectual disability often experience repression and control of their sexuality as they have historically been perceived as being childlike and asexual by members of society. Such acts can be seen to contravene their Human Rights under The Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities (CRPD), which endorses the rights of people with intellectual disability to fully express their sexuality.The purpose of this study was to explore if people with intellectual disability access internet based social media, and if so, if they use it to form relationships that express their sexuality. Using an interpretative phenomenological approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 adults with an intellectual disability (22 males, 8 females), aged between 20 to 66 years. Participants were purposely sampled though disability #organisations.Three themes emerged from the data: creating new friendships, maintaining existing friendships, exploring and expressing sexuality. People with intellectual disability used a variety of personal electronic devices to access internet based social media to be socially and sexually active. Facebook was accessed to make contact with existing platonic friends, peers and interest groups to meet socially. Sexually explicit material was viewed using the internet, either as an individual activity or by couples in monogamous relationships. This study adds to the paucity of research examining the use of internet based social media by people with intellectual disability for sexual expression. This research revealed the people with intellectual disability exercised cyber safe practices without any explicit formal education and conducted themselves in a respectful manner. Few participants acted in a manner that appeared to put them at risk of exploitation.

Exploring how support workers understand their role in supporting adults with intellectual disabilities to access the Internet for intimate relationships

“…Hollomotz & Speak‐up Committee (2009) conducted four focus groups with service users of an NHS intellectual disabilities service, which highlighted the difficulties people face when seeking the privacy to explore sexual relationships, especially when living in communal accommodation. Australian research (Darragh et al., 2017) where adults with intellectual disabilities were interviewed about their Internet use found that people could conduct themselves safely without any specific training. There are other, wider challenges for people with intellectual disabilities who are looking to engage in sexual relationships, which include issues around capacity and the law (Evans & Rodgers, 2000), the impact of social and cultural norms ascribed to people with intellectual disabilities and perceptions of their sexuality (Azzopardi‐Lane & Callus, 2015), and structural and organizational rules that may also preclude facilitating relationships between service users (Lesseliers, 1999).…”

More Inclusion Through Participation?

“…In accordance with the present results, previous studies demonstrated how the access, interaction and participation to SNS affect the lives of PID in various ways. Thereby, many authors discussed the motives of PID for using SNS (e.g., desire to meet new people or romantic partner; (Amado et al, 2013;Darragh et al, 2017;Löfgren-Mårtenson, 2008), the potentials of SNS for the impaired individuals (e.g., expressing a social identity online by self-generating content (Holmes & O'Loughlin, 2014) as well as the challenges regarding the SNS usage (e.g., cyberbullying; Holmes & O'Loughlin, 2014).…”

“…Söderstrom's study (2009) confirms this assumption: participants with disabilities intentionally use the Internet to establish social contacts with peers outside their milieu. Additionally, some PID also use SNS to find romantic partners and build intimate relationships (Darragh et al, 2017;Löfgren-Mårtenson, 2008). SNS also serve as a means of expressing social identity as well as sharing life stories, personal experiences and opinions (Caton & Chapman, 2016;Chadwick & Wesson, 2016;Chadwick et al, 2019).…”

The Design, Content and Delivery of Relationship and Sexuality Education Programmes for People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review of the International Evidence

“…As young adults with ID transition from child to adult services tensions are evident regarding the expression of their sexuality due to concerns regarding the risks associated with exploitation versus the right to experience relationships and intimacy [ 25 , 26 ]. However, concerns exist around an individual’s lack of knowledge about relationships and appropriate sexual behaviours [ 27 ]. There may also be limited awareness of the potential risks of exploitation and abuse, unintended pregnancy and HIV and STIs [ 28 , 29 ].…”