Attitudes of Professional Staff Towards the Sexuality of Persons withIntellectual Disabilities

Although persons with intellectual disabilities are entitled to sexual education and freedom of sexual expression, they are often discriminated against in this area and denied access to appropriate education. The attitudes of professional staff play a crucial role in shaping how sexuality is addressed in educational, social and care settings. Supportive and informed professional attitudes are essential for promoting healthy sexual development and safeguarding the well-being of persons with intellectual disabilities. The aim of this study was to examine the attitudes of professional staff who provide support to persons with intellectual disabilities toward the sexuality in relation to the respondents’ gender and age. To assess professionals’ attitudes toward the sexuality of persons with intellectual disabilities adopted version of ASQ-ID (Attitudes to Sexuality Questionnaire – Individuals with an Intellectual Disability) developed by Cuskelly and Gilmore (2007) was used. The study included a sample of 90 respondents (various profiles of professional staff who providing support to persons with intellectual disabilities). The results showed that there are differences in the attitudes of professional staff in relation to the age of respondents, while no statistically significant differences were found in relation to gender of professional staff.