Inclusive Intimacy: Sexual Experiences, Debut, and Partners Among Females Ages 15–25 with and Without Disability, NSFG 2011–2019

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Authors: J. Dalton Stevens, Anne M. Valentine, Jessica Hoyle, Frank Li, Kelsey Zionskowski, John Alexander Harris, Ilhom Akobirshoev, Monika Mitra, Willi Horner-Johnson
Cited by: 1
References: 33

Abstract

= 7884). Chi-square and modified Poisson regression analysis compared sexual experiences, debut, and number of partners of females with and without disability by status and type. After adjustment, females with any, cognitive, or physical/sensory disability were more likely than those without disability to have had an opposite-sex sexual debut before age 15 and 10 or more opposite-sex sex partners. Those with any or cognitive disability were more likely than those without disability to have given oral sex to a male, receive oral sex from a male, had anal sex with a male, had any sexual experience with a female, and had 10 or more same-sex partners. Our analyses provide detailed population-level data on disabled adolescent and young adult females' sexual experiences, debut, and partners and demonstrate that young disabled females have active sexual lives, highlighting the need for comprehensive sexual education and health care addressing relationships with all genders, STI testing and prevention, and sexual rights and consent. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11195-025-09931-9.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Disability Rights and Representation Down syndrome and intellectual disability research Sexual function and dysfunction studies

Publication details

Journal / source
Sexuality and Disability
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Volume
44
Issue
2
Pages
16–16
Publication date
18 February 2026
Language
EN