Correlates of attitudes toward the sexuality of the disabled person in selected health professionals

The attitudes of health professionals toward sexuality and disability have recently been under much scrutiny. These attitudes have been characterized as essentially negative. This study was undertaken in an attempt to clarify the relationship between attitudes toward sexuality, attitudes toward disability and attitudes toward the sexual behavior of the disabled.Fifty-three health professionals from three rehabilitation centers served as subjects. Subjects completed a research packet that included theAttitude Toward Disabled Persons Test, Sex Knowledge and Attitude Test and a researcher-designed Attitude Toward Sexual Behavior of the Disabled semantic differential.It was found that attitudes toward disability did not correlate with sex knowledge, attitudes or with attitudes toward the sexual behavior of the disabled. Attitudes toward the sexual behavior of the disabled is best predicted by attitudes toward premarital and extramartial sex and attitudes toward autoeroticism.The data indicate that attitudes toward the sexual behavior of the disabled are associated more with fundamental sex attitudes than with attitudes toward disability. Sex knowledge is not related to attitudes toward sexual behavior of the disabled. It was recommended that programs designed to change attitudes toward sexual behavior of the disabled should focus on attitudes as opposed to knowledge.She is also project director for the Sexual Adjustment Counseling Services project at George Washington University.The original research was conducted under the support of the University of North Carolina Medical School, Department of Allied Health Professions. Preparation of this article was supported by Department of Health, Education & Welfare Grant #RSA 15-P-57882/3-03.The author wishes to extend personal thanks to Debra Cornelius and Elaine Makas for their assistance in preparing this article.