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Parents' perceptions regarding couple relationships of their adult children with intellectual disabilities
Author(s) -
Neuman Ran
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1468-3148
pISSN - 1360-2322
DOI - 10.1111/jar.12674
Subject(s) - intellectual disability , psychology , perception , developmental psychology , thematic analysis , multiple disabilities , social psychology , qualitative research , psychiatry , sociology , social science , neuroscience
Background A particular challenge facing parents of children with intellectual disabilities occurs when their adult children with intellectual disabilities has an interest in pursuing couple relationships. This study explores parents' perceptions regarding the nature of couple relationships, the right of their adult children with intellectual disabilities to pursue such relationships, the difficulties their children encounter and their own role in providing support. Method Interviews were conducted with 30 parents of adults with intellectual disabilities who had left home for independent and semi‐independent living arrangements. A thematic content analysis was conducted. Results Whereas parents used “mutual support” to characterize couple relationships in general, they viewed their children with intellectual disabilities as primarily focused on “physical intimacy” and the couple relationship as a “status symbol,” as well as expressed reservations about their becoming parents. Conclusions Parents should be helped to adopt a more consistent and positive attitude towards their intellectual disabilities children's pursuit of couple relationships.