Sexual relationships of adolescents with disabilities

¶ … Social and Sexual Relationships of Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: A Review (2006). Key concepts of the article are described, and a critical analysis is provided. The article's relevance to overall course material is also described.

Key Concepts

In the journal article, Social and Sexual Relationships of Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: A Review, Wiegerink et al.'s (2006) objective was to investigate possible barriers that exist in creating successful sexual and social relationships in adolescents and young adults of normal intelligence with cerebral palsy.

Wiegerink et al. (2006) completed analysis of fourteen papers, published from 1991 to 2002, study populations ranged in aged from 11-16 to 18-85, with IQ indication ranging from normal to able to answer generic written questionnaire, and a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, physical disabilities, or physical disabilities or a combination thereof. Study populations focused largely on the U.S.A., Canada, but also included the UK, Australia, and Finland. Overall, two of the papers focused on individuals with cerebral palsy only, and twelve focused on individuals with physical disabilities, or physical disabilities that could include cerebral palsy. Papers were selected that focused on one or more outcome parameters (sexual and social relationships) or factors that described relationships with these parameters.

Wiegerink et al.'s (2006) analysis revealed that the social relationships of adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy tended to be less active. Dating was also delayed. Sexuality was often described as important, but difficulties in developing sexual relationships were described. Factors associated with social and sexual relationships included low sexual self-esteem, low self-efficacy, and psychological maladjustment. Wiegerink et al. (2006) describe self-efficacy as "the belief in one's capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action required to manage prospective situations" (p. 1027). The negative attitudes of society and overprotective parents were also reported to play a role in the development of negative self-efficacy of individuals with cerebral palsy.

Overall, Wiegerink et al. (2006) concluded the development of sexual and social relationships in young adults and adolescents with cerebral palsy can be influenced by many factors. In summary, however only four key factors were supported by evidence in the reviewed studies: self-efficacy, sexual self-esteem, interrelationships with the parents' and successful experiences in social situations.

Critical Analysis

Perhaps one of the greatest flaws with Wiegerink et al.'s paper comes from the diversity of the initial papers it analyzes. In the original papers, study populations ranged in aged from 11-16 to 18-85, with IQ indications ranging from normal to able to answer generic written questionnaire, and diagnoses of cerebral palsy, physical disabilities, or physical disabilities, and study populations from within the U.S.A., Canada, the UK, Australia, and Finland.

To begin, the age range of study populations can be problematic, as the social experiences and social environment of an 85-year-old may be wildly divergent than an 11-year-old, for example. Further, the recollections (after the fact) of an adult may be greatly different than those of someone in the throes of puberty and new social and sexual experiences. Similarly, diagnoses, and location between the papers could lead to a great divergence in the study populations. Differences in IQ assessment between the papers may also have created a disparity of IQs. Essentially, the authors may have cast their net a bit too wide in their analysis.

Overall, Wiegerink et al.'s (2006) analysis provides a useful overview of the problems faced by adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy. Further research, however, should attempt to more painstakingly describe how the many factors influencing social and sexual relationship in this population interact. In addition, further research should aim to more clearly describe the issues facing individuals with cerebral palsy specifically, rather than simply focusing on the larger cohort of individuals with other mental and physical disabilities (as done in at least 12 of the papers reviewed in this study).