Hughes, Helen (2007) An investigation into attitudes relating to sex and sexuality of people who have a learning disability. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

The area of sexuality for people with learning disability is a much neglected area of research. It is possible that this may be influenced by the attitudes that professionals have towards the sexuality of the people they work with. In order to discuss this issue the literature review in chapter one provides an overview of the studies carried out over the past twenty years concerning staff attitudes towards the sexuality of people with learning disabilities. This discussion will be set within the context of the principles outlined in the Government White Paper.
Current research examining the behaviour of men who have a learning disability and sexually offend has been completed without the use of control groups, thus making it difficult to assess whether there are any differences between men who sexually offend and those who do not. Although the current literature identifies some of the characteristics that may contribute towards the risk of offending, it does not present any information regarding models of offending for people who have a learning disability.
The research in Chapter two explores the attitudes of men, both offenders and non-offenders with learning disabilities, towards sex and sexuality their experiences. Semi-structured interviews were carried out and analysed using grounded theory methodology and theoretical models developed. Methodological limitations, clinical
implications and future research were also considered.
Chapter three demonstrates some of the researcher's reflections on research with sex offenders. These include the methodological choice of grounded theory and its' appropriateness when used with people who have a learning disability, the impact of the researcher's gender on the interview process and some of the issues that being pregnant during the interviews posed. Finally, supervision and its' significance in terms of the subjectivity and bias of data interpretation is discussed.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	People with mental disabilities -- Great Britain, Men with mental disabilities -- Great Britain, Learning disabled men -- Great Britain, Sex (Psychology) , Sex offenders -- Great Britain
Official Date:	May 2007
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of Psychology
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Liebling-Kalifani, Helen ; Roberts, Deborah
Extent:	x, 126 leaves
Language:	eng

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