Psychological Reports, 1977,41, 874. @ Psychological Reports 1977
SURVEY OF ATTITUDES TOWARD SEXUAL BEHAVIOR OF INSTITUTIONALIZED MENTAL RETARDATES' JAMES L. MC EWEN William Cmey College The ability of mental retardates to handle the responsibilities of dating, sex, marriage, and parenthood has been discussed over the past decade ( 2 ) . Recently those with retarded and/or socially deprived individuals have shifted from a custodial to a rehabilitive philosophy ( 3 ) . T o understand more fully the social and physical needs of the mentally deficient, more information is needed about their sexual knowledge and practices, and their attitudes toward sex and self ( 4 ) . Regardless of the capabilities or inadequacies of the menrally retarded to handle sexual matters, the answers lie in the social and political implications of the population. Bass ( 1 ) states that, although mentally deficient, retarded individuals also have strong needs for sexual expression, affection, and mutual enjoyment of each other's company. Consequently through the recent change in attitudes there are now certain mental institutions that have designated areas chat are specifically designed for sexual intercourse between institutionalized residents. Although the residents may or may not be married, these areas are used as a deterrent to public and/or private masturbation or public and/or private homosexuality ( 3 ) . This study assessed public reaction to and preference for control and approval of sexual behavior of mental retardates. A 6-item information section and a 7-item attitude scale were answered by 90 srudents of a small, private college located in the south. Questionnaires were distributed randomly to students of the college. Participation was voluntary. The information section included elements such as sex, age, weight, height, college classification, and race. The attitude section was designed to sample feelings on the sexual behavior of mental retardates, rights of mental retardates to participate in heterosexual activity (whether married or unmarried), feelings toward sterilization of mental retardates, their ability to maintain a successful marriage, and if mental retardates were sterilized would it lead to sexual promiscuity. A 5-point scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree provided the response choices. Of the males 59% agreed that mental retardates should be allowed to participare in sexual intercourse with members of the opposite sex and 50% of the females. Of the males 75% and 78% of the females agreed that if mental retardates are allowed to participate in sexual relations chere should be some means of birth control. Although a large percentage agreed that mental retardates should be allowed to have sexual relations, 45% of the males and 57% of the females felt that retardates should not be allowed to have sexual relations if unmarried, whereas 59% of the males and 46% of the females felt that mental retardates could maintain a successful marriage. Over-all 54% of the subjects agreed that mental retardates should be permitted ro have sexual relations with members of the opposite sex, 76% agreed that if such activities take place there should be some means of birth control. Fifty-rwo per cent felt that they could maintain a successful marriage, and 52% felt that they should not have sexual relations unless they were married. Most subjects surveyed were aware of the needs and desires of the mentally retarded. REFERENCES 1. BASS,M. S. Marriage for the mentally deficient. Mental Retardation, 1964, 2, 45-58. G. R., K w I n , M. S., & ROSEN, M. A . Transitional program for institution2. CLARK, alized adult retardates. URA Project No. R D 1275P. Elwyn, Pennsylvania, Elwyn Institute. 1968. 3. FLOOR. L.. BAXTER, D.. ROSEN, M., & ZISFEIN. L. A survey of marriages among previously institutionalized retardates. Mental Retarda~ion,1975, 13, 33-37. 4. GOODMAN,L., BUDNER, S., & LESH, B. The parents' role in sex education of the retarded. Mental Retardation, 1971, 9, 43-46. Acceated Seatember 19. . - ~ , - , 1977. 'Tabular material is on file in Document NAPS-03112 with Microfiche Systems. 440 Park Avenue South, New York, N. Y. 10016. Remit $3.00 for microfiche or $5.25 for photo~
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SURVEY OF ATTITUDES TOWARD SEXUAL BEHAVIOR OF INSTITUTIONALIZED MENTAL RETARDATES' JAMES L. MC EWEN William Cmey College The ability of mental retardates to handle the responsibilities of dating, sex, marriage, and parenthood has been discussed over the past decade ( 2 ) . Recently those with retarded and/or socially deprived individuals have shifted from a custodial to a rehabilitive philosophy ( 3 ) . T o understand more fully the social and physical needs of the mentally deficient, more information is needed about their sexual knowledge and practices, and their attitudes toward sex and self ( 4 ) . Regardless of the capabilities or inadequacies of the menrally retarded to handle sexual matters, the answers lie in the social and political implications of the population. Bass ( 1 ) states that, although mentally deficient, retarded individuals also have strong needs for sexual expression, affection, and mutual enjoyment of each other's company. Consequently through the recent change in attitudes there are now certain mental institutions that have designated areas chat are specifically designed for sexual intercourse between institutionalized residents. Although the residents may or may not be married, these areas are used as a deterrent to public and/or private masturbation or public and/or private homosexuality ( 3 ) . This study assessed public reaction to and preference for control and approval of sexual behavior of mental retardates. A 6-item information section and a 7-item attitude scale were answered by 90 srudents of a small, private college located in the south. Questionnaires were distributed randomly to students of the college. Participation was voluntary. The information section included elements such as sex, age, weight, height, college classification, and race. The attitude section was designed to sample feelings on the sexual behavior of mental retardates, rights of mental retardates to participate in heterosexual activity (whether married or unmarried), feelings toward sterilization of mental retardates, their ability to maintain a successful marriage, and if mental retardates were sterilized would it lead to sexual promiscuity. A 5-point scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree provided the response choices. Of the males 59% agreed that mental retardates should be allowed to participare in sexual intercourse with members of the opposite sex and 50% of the females. Of the males 75% and 78% of the females agreed that if mental retardates are allowed to participate in sexual relations chere should be some means of birth control. Although a large percentage agreed that mental retardates should be allowed to have sexual relations, 45% of the males and 57% of the females felt that retardates should not be allowed to have sexual relations if unmarried, whereas 59% of the males and 46% of the females felt that mental retardates could maintain a successful marriage. Over-all 54% of the subjects agreed that mental retardates should be permitted ro have sexual relations with members of the opposite sex, 76% agreed that if such activities take place there should be some means of birth control. Fifty-rwo per cent felt that they could maintain a successful marriage, and 52% felt that they should not have sexual relations unless they were married. Most subjects surveyed were aware of the needs and desires of the mentally retarded. REFERENCES 1. BASS,M. S. Marriage for the mentally deficient. Mental Retardation, 1964, 2, 45-58. G. R., K w I n , M. S., & ROSEN, M. A . Transitional program for institution2. CLARK, alized adult retardates. URA Project No. R D 1275P. Elwyn, Pennsylvania, Elwyn Institute. 1968. 3. FLOOR. L.. BAXTER, D.. ROSEN, M., & ZISFEIN. L. A survey of marriages among previously institutionalized retardates. Mental Retarda~ion,1975, 13, 33-37. 4. GOODMAN,L., BUDNER, S., & LESH, B. The parents' role in sex education of the retarded. Mental Retardation, 1971, 9, 43-46. Acceated Seatember 19. . - ~ , - , 1977. 'Tabular material is on file in Document NAPS-03112 with Microfiche Systems. 440 Park Avenue South, New York, N. Y. 10016. Remit $3.00 for microfiche or $5.25 for photo~
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