Click here to download

Sexual health and rights of people with disability. The role of caregiver and social care professionals
Journal Title: PSICOLOGIA DI COMUNITA’ 
Author/s: Roberto Castiglia, Maria Garro, Aluette Merenda, Alessandra Salerno 
Year:  2018 Issue: 2 Language: Italian 
Pages:  21 Pg. 69-89 FullText PDF:  291 KB
DOI:  10.3280/PSC2018-002007
(DOI is like a bar code for intellectual property: to have more infomation:  clicca qui   and here 


The paper is aimed at the analysis of the connection between disability, sexual satisfaction and psychosocial well-being. Most of the relevant literature highlights how people with physical or mental disabilities are considered as unable to live a healthy sexuality, because they are often perceived as eternal children, whose sexuality could be denied as well as their possibility of having an intimate relationship. Actually, this social representation contributes to the spread of false attributions and prejudices, that may also be found inside the familiar context or by professionals. The present work is also oriented toward the promotion of sexual health practice and rights of people with disabilities, a topic often misconceived and not enough debated by the Institutions.
Keywords: Couples, rights, disability, sexual health, social exclusion, social representations

  1. Anderson P. e Kitchin R. (2000). Disability, space and sexuality: access to family planning services. Social Science & Medicine, 51: 1163-1173.
  2. Barnes C., Mercer G. e Shakespeare T. (1999). Exploring Disability: A Sociological Introduction. Cambridge: Polity Press.
  3. Batini F. (2011). Comprendere la differenza. Verso una pedagogia dell’identità sessuale. Roma: Armando.
  4. Berman H., Harris D., Enright R., Gilpin M., Cathers T. e Bukovy G. (1999). Sexuality and the adolescent with a physical disability: Understandings and Misunderstandings. Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing, 22, 4: 183-196., DOI: 10.1080/01460869926527
  5. Bernert D.J. e Ogletree R.J. (2013). Women with intellectual disabilities talk about their perceptions of sex. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 57, 3: 240-249.
  6. Björnsdóttir K., Stefánsdóttir Á. e Stefánsdóttir G.V. (2017). People with Intellectual Disabilities Negotiate Autonomy, Gender and Sexuality. Sexuality and Disability, 35, 3: 295-311.
  7. Calitz F.J.W. (2011). Psycho-legal challenges facing the mentally retarded rape victim. South African Journal of Psychiatry, 17, 3: 66-72.
  8. Cappello M. (2016). Vita affettiva e sessuale nei paraplegici. -- Retrieved from: http: //www. ilmiolibro.it.
  9. Casalini B. (2013). Disabilità, immaginazione e cittadinanza sessuale. Etica & Politica / Ethics & Politics, XV, 2: 301-320.
  10. Castelli G. (2013). Educare alla sessualità. In Castelli G., Cereda P., Crotti M.E. e Villa A. (a cura di). Educare alla sessualità Percorsi di educazione alla vita affettiva e sessuale per persone con disabilità intellettiva. Milano: FrancoAngeli.
  11. Deloach C. (2004). Attitudes toward disability: Impact on sexual development and forging of intimate relationships. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 25,1, 18-25.
  12. De Than C. (2014). Sex, Disability and Human Rights: Current legal and practical problems, In Owen T. e De Than C., Supporting disabled people with their sexual lives. A clear guide for health and social care professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
  13. DeVivo M.J. e Richards J.S. (1996). Marriage rates among persons with spinal cord injury. Rehabilitation Psychology, 41, 4: 321-329.
  14. Di Nuovo S. e Buono S. (2004). Famiglie con figli disabili. Troina: Città Aperta.
  15. Esmail S., Esmail Y. e Munro B. (2001). Sexuality and Disability: The Role of Health Care Professionals in Providing Options and Alternatives for Couples. Sexuality and Disability, 19, 4: 267-282., DOI: 10.1023/A:101790542559
  16. Esmail S., Darry K., Walter A. e Knupp H. (2010). Attitudes and perception towards disability and sexuality. Disability and Rehabilitation, 32, 14: 1148-1155., DOI: 10.3109/0963828090341927
  17. Evans D.S., McGuire B.E., Healy E. e Carley S.N. (2009). Sexuality and personal relationships for people with an intellectual disability. Part. II: staff and family care perspectives. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53, 2: 913-921.
  18. Fairbairn G. e Rowley D. (2005). Ethical aspects of sexuality of people with intellectual disabilities. In Głodkowska J. e Giryn´ski A. (eds.). Sexuality of people with intellectual disabilities (pp. 9-23). Warszawa: APS.
  19. Foley W.F., LaRocca N.G., Sanders A.S. e Zemon V. (2001). Rehabilitation of intimacy and sexual dysfunction in couples with multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 7, 6: 417-421.
  20. Frawley P. e Wilson N.J. (2016). Young People with Intellectual Disability Talking About Sexuality Education and Information. Sexuality and Disability, 34,4: 469-484
  21. Gay R. e Di Bona M. (2007). Eros e disabili. Milano: Ancora.
  22. Goldman A., Hain R. e Liben S (2012). Adolescents and Young Adults. The Oxford Textbook of Palliative Care for Children, Oxford: University Press.
  23. Jacobson D.S. (2000). The Sexuality and Disability Unit: Applications for Group Training. Sexuality and Disability, 18, 3: 175-177.
  24. Kattari S.K. e Turner G (2017). Examining More Inclusive Approaches to Social Work, Physical Disability, and Sexuality. Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation, 16, 1: 38-53., DOI: 10.1080/1536710X.2017.126051
  25. Kreuter M., Sullivan M., Dahllof A.G. e Siosteen A. (1998). Partner relationships, functioning, mood and global quality of life in persons with spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. Spinal Cord, 36, 4: 252-261.
  26. Lafferty A., McConkey R. e Simpson A. (2012). Reducing the barriers to relationships and sexuality education for persons with intellectual disabilities. Sexuality and Disability, 16, 1: 29-43., DOI: 10.1177/174462951243803
  27. Lamb B. e Layzell S. (1994). Disabled in Britain: A world apart. London: SCOPE.
  28. Lease S., Cohen J. e Dahlbeck D. (2007). Body and sexual esteem as mediators of the physical disability interpersonal competencies relation. Rehabilitation Psychology, 52: 399-408., DOI: 10.1037/0090-5550.52.4.39
  29. Lee S. e Fenge L.A. (2016). Sexual Well-Being and Physical Disability. The British Journal of Social Work, 46, 8 (1): 2263-2281., DOI: 10.1080/02615479.2017.140160
  30. Leonardi, M., Bickenbach J., Ustun T.B., Kostanjsek N. e Chatterji S. (2006). The definition of disability: what is in a name? The lancet, 368, 9543: 1219-1221., DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(06)69498-
  31. Liddiard K. (2017). The Intimate Lives of Disabled People: Sex and Relationships. Farnham: Ashgate Publishing Limited.
  32. Limoncin E., Galli D., Ciocca G., Gravina G.L., Carosa E. e Mollaioli D. (2014) The Psychosexual Profile of Sexual Assistants: An Internet-Based Explorative Study. PLoS ONE9(6): e98413.
  33. McCabe M.P., Cummins R.A. e Deeks A.A. (2000). Sexuality and Quality of Life Among People with Physical Disability. Sexuality and Disability, 18,2: 115-123., DOI: 10.1023/A:100556281360
  34. McConkey R. e Ryan D. (2001). Experiences of staff in dealing with client sexuality in services for teenagers and adults with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 45,1: 83-87., DOI: 10.1111/(ISSN)1365-278
  35. McRuer R. e Mollow A. (2012). Sex and disability. Durham NC: Duke University Press.
  36. Meaney-Tavares R. e Gavidia-Payne S. (2012). Staff characteristics and attitudes towards the sexuality of people with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 37, 3: 269-273., DOI: 10.3109/13668250.2012.701005.
  37. Milligan M.S. e Neufeldt A.H. (2001). The Myth of Asexuality: A Survey of Social and Empirical Evidence. Sexuality and Disability, 19, 2: 91-109, DOI: 10.1023/A:101062170559
  38. Moin V., Duvdevany I. e Mazor D. (2009). Sexual identity, body image and life satisfaction among women with and without physical disability. Sexuality and Disability, 27: 83-95.
  39. Oliver M.N., Anthony A., Leimkuhl T.T. e Skillman G.D. (2002). Attitudes toward acceptable socio-sexual behaviors for persons with mental retardation: Implications for Normalization and community integration. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 37, 2: 193-201.
  40. Ostrowska A. (2007). Sexuality of the disabled. In Ostrowska A. (ed.). The sexuality of people with disabilities (pp. 8-21). Warszawa: IRSS.
  41. Parchomiuk M. (2012). Specialists and sexuality of individuals with disability. Sexuality and Disability, 30, 4: 407-419.
  42. Park A., Curtice J., Thomson K., Phillips M. e Johnson M. (2007). British Social Attitudes: The 23rd Report: Perspectives on a Changing Society. London: Sage., DOI: 10.4135/978184920868
  43. Parritt S. e O’Callaghan J. (2000). Splitting the difference: An exploratory study of therapists’ work with sexuality, relationships and disability. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 15, 2: 151-169., DOI: 10.1080/1468199005001074
  44. Rodarte I. e Munoz M. (2004). Inventory of Sexual Experience and Response in Disability (IEReSDi): construction and validation of the scale of the sexual response in people with disabilities. Sexuality and Disability, 22, 3: 181-195.
  45. Rovatti F. (2016). Sessualità e disabilità intellettiva. Guida per caregiver, educatori e genitori. Trento: Erickson.
  46. Salvarezza L. (2013). The pulsional defusion and destinations of sexuality beyond genitality. Revista Temática Kairós Gerontologia, Eroticism/Sexuality and Old Age, 16 (1), 15-26.
  47. Sakellariou D. (2006). If not the disability, then what? Barriers to reclaiming sexuality following spinal cord injury. Sexuality and Disability, 24: 101-111.
  48. Samelson D.A. e Hannon R. (1999). Sexual Desire in Couples Living with Chronic Medical Conditions. The Family Journal, 7, 1: 29-38., DOI: 10.1177/106648079907100
  49. Sobsey D. (1994). Violence and abuse in the lives of people with disabilities: The end of silent acceptance? Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.
  50. Stettini P. (2008). Sexual life and physical disability: an italian research on neuromuscular disabled subjects. Elsevier Journal, Sexologies, 17, 1: S39.
  51. Stone D.L. e Colella A. (1996). A Model of Factors Affecting the Treatment of Disabled Individuals in Organizations. Academy of Management Review, 21, 2: 352-401.
  52. Taleporos G. e McCabe M.P. (2003). Relationships, sexuality and adjustment among people with physical disability. Journal Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 18, 1: 25-43.
  53. Tugut N., Golbasi Z., Erenel A.S., Koc G. e Ucar T. (2016). A Multicenter Study of Nursing Students’ Perspectives on the Sexuality of People with Disabilities. Sexuality and Disability, 34, 4: 433-442.
  54. Uliveri, M. A. (cura di) (2014). LoveAbility. L’assistenza sessuale per le persone con disabilità. Torino: Erickson.
  55. Valtolina G. (2000). Famiglia e disabilità. Milano: FrancoAngeli.
  56. Wasserman D., Asch A., Blustein J. e Putnam D. (2016). Disability: Health, Well-Being and Personal relationships. The Stanford Enciclopedia of Philosophy. -- Testo disponibile al sito: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/disability-health/, data di consultazione gennaio 2018.
  57. Werner S. (2015). Public stigma and the perception of rights: Differences between intellectual and physical disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 38: 262-271.
  58. Wilson N.J., Parmenter T.R., Stancliffe R.J. e Shuttleworth R.P. (2011). Conditionally sexual: men and teenage boys with moderate to profound intellectual disability. Sexuality and Disability, 29, 3: 275-289.
  59. Young R., Gore N. e Mc Carthy M. (2012). Staff attitudes towards sexuality in relation to gender of people with intellectual disability: a qualitative study. Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 37(4): 343-7., DOI: 10.3109/13668250.2012.70498
  60. Zanobini M. e Usai M.C. (2007). Psicologia della disabilità e della riabilitazione. Milano: FrancoAngeli.

Roberto Castiglia, Maria Garro, Aluette Merenda, Alessandra Salerno, Sexual health and rights of people with disability. The role of caregiver and social care professionals in "PSICOLOGIA DI COMUNITA’" 2/2018, pp. 69-89, DOI:10.3280/PSC2018-002007

   

FrancoAngeli is a member of Publishers International Linking Association a not for profit orgasnization wich runs the CrossRef service, enabing links to and from online scholarly content