title: Staff attitudes towards sexuality in relation to gender of people with intellectual disability: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research has found staff attitudes regarding the sexuality of people with intellectual disability (ID) to be negative but influenced by several factors. The current study aimed to examine whether gender of people with ID affects such attitudes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semistructured interviews were completed with 10 staff members and analysed using thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicated 3 themes: Women are perceived as sexually innocent, men as more sexually motivated, and motivations for sexual relationships are perceived to differ between men and women with ID.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study indicates unfavourable attitudes towards sexuality in individuals with ID that correlate with traditional, restricted gender stereotypes. The identification of these themes highlights the importance of considering gender when supporting the sexuality of people with ID.
authors.affiliation: Tizard Centre, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK. rhea.young@hotmail.co.uk
authors.forename: Rhea
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gore
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D019529:Sexuality; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult