Exploring the Perceptions of Men with Intellectual Disabilities Regarding Their Long-Term Partnerships

Katarzyna Ćwirynkało, Monika Parchomiuk

Abstract


Introduction: Although researchers have been increasingly interested in de facto partnerships between people with intellectual disabilities (ID), there have been few studies concerning males, especially those who succeeded in developing long-term relations.

Research Aim: The study aimed to understand how males with ID perceive their relationships and the meanings they ascribe to them.

Method: Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to explore this aim. Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted with males with ID who were in a long-term intimate relationship.

Results: The analysis allowed us to identify four superordinate themes: (1) Meanings ascribed to partners, (2) Road to building a partnership, (3) Barriers on the road to building and functioning in a relationship, and (4) Relationships of the males under study with women: from harmony to conflicts and relationship breakups, followed by several constituent themes.

Conclusion: The study has shown the importance of relationships to adult males with ID and has helped to identify the favorable factors and barriers in developing and maintaining such relationships.


Keywords


males with intellectual disabilities; female partners; relationships; barriers

Full Text:

PDF

References


Bane, G., Deely, M., Donohoe, B., Dooher, M., Flaherty, J., Garcia Iriarte, E., Hopkins, R., Mahon, A., Minogue, G., Mc Donagh, P., O’Doherty, S., Curry, M., Shannon, S., Tierney, E., Wolfe, M. (2012). Relationships of people with learning disabilities in Ireland. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 40, 109–122. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3156.2012.00741.x

Bartnikowska, U., Ćwirynkało, K. (2014). Początki związków z partnerami we wspomnieniach niepełnosprawnych mężczyzn. In G. Gunia, D. Baraniewicz (eds.), Teoria i praktyka oddziaływań profilaktyczno-wspierających rozwój osób z niepełnosprawnością. T. 3.1 (p. 115-126). Wydawnictwo Naukowe UP.

Bates, C., Terry L., Popple, K. (2016). The importance of romantic love to people with learning disabilities. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 45, 64–72. https://doi.org/10.1111/bld.12177

Bates, C., Terry L., Popple, K. (2017). Partner selection for people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 30, 602–611. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12254

Bogenschutz, M., Novak Amado, A. (2016). Social inclusion for people with IDD: what we know and where we go from here. In Critical issues in intellectual and developmental disabilities: contemporary research, practice, and policy. (pp. 19-36). AAIDD.

Booth, T., Booth, W. (2002). Men in the lives of mothers with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 15, 187-199. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1468-3148.2002.00089.x

Crowe, T. K., Salazar Sedillo, J., Kertcher, E. F., LaSalle, J. H. (2015). Time and space use of adults with intellectual disabilities. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1124

Cytowska, B. (2012). Trudne drogi adaptacji. Wątki emancypacyjne w analizie sytuacji dorosłych osób z niepełnosprawnością intelektualną we współczesnym społeczeństwie polskim. Oficyna Wydawnicza Impuls.

Ćwirynkało, K. (2021). Mężczyźni z niepełnosprawnością intelektualną jako partnerzy i ojcowie w oczach swoich partnerek. Raport z badań. Konteksty Pedagogiczne, 1, 99-120. https://doi.org/10.19265/kp.2021.1.16.310

Ćwirynkało, K., Borowska-Beszta, B., Bartnikowska, U. (2016). Masculinity as defined by males self-advocates with intellectual disabilities: a focus group research report. International Journal of Psycho-Educational Sciences, 5(3), 105-120.

Ćwirynkało K., Byra S., Żyta A. (2017). Sexuality of adults with intellectual disabilities as described by support staff workers. Croatian Review of Rehabilitation Research, 53 (Supplement), 1331-3010.

Ćwirynkało, K., Żyta, A. (2019). Self-advocates with intellectual disabilities talk about love and relationships. A focus-group research report. International Journal of Special Education, 34(1), s. 109-122.

Gajdzica, Z. (2005). Użyteczność kategorii pojęciowej sytuacji w badaniu bezradności osób z lekką niepełnosprawnością intelektualną. In A. Zoll, Z. Gajdzica, M. Rembierz (Eds.), Bezradność: interdyscyplinarne studium zjawiska w kontekście zmiany społecznej i edukacyjnej (s. 149-166). Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego.

Healy, E., McGuire, B. E., Evans, D. S., Carley, S. N. (2009). Sexuality and personal relationships for people with an intellectual disability. Part I: service-user perspectives. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53(11), 905–912. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2009.01203.x.

Jacobs, P., Watchman, K., Wilkinson, H., Hoyle, L. (2023). Couples with intellectual disability where one partner has dementia – a scoping review exploring relationships in the context of dementia and intellectual disability. Ageing & Society, 1–40. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X22001416

Karellou, J. (2017). “It is only natural….”: attitudes of young people with intellectual disabilities toward sexuality in Greece. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 10(3), 217-236. https://doi.org/10.1080/19315864.2016.1278291

Kelly, G., Crowley, H., Hamilton, C. (2009). Rights, sexuality and relationships in Ireland: ‘It’d be nice to be kind of trusted’. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37(4), 308-315. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3156.2009.00587.x

Krzemińska, D. (2019). Być parą z niepełnosprawnością intelektualną. Studium mikroetnograficzne w kontekście teorii postkolonialnej Homiego K. Bhabhy. Oficyna Wydawnicza Impuls.

Krzemińska, D. (2009). O byciu parą osób z niepełnosprawnością intelektualną. Niepełnosprawność – półrocznik naukowy. Życie z niepełnosprawnością. Trud dorastania i społecznej egzystencji, 2, 93-105.

Lafferty, A., McConkey, R., Taggart, L. (2013). Beyond friendship: the nature and meaning of close personal relationships as perceived by people with learning disabilities. Disability and Society, 28(8), 1074-1088. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2012.758030

Lam, A., Yau, M., Franklin, R. C., Leggat, P. A. (2019). The unintended invisible hand: a conceptual framework for the analysis of the sexual lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Sexuality and Disability, 37, 203–226. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-018-09554-3

McCarthy, M., Bates, C., Elson, N., Hunt, S., Milne-Skillman, K., Forrester–Jones, R. (2021). ‘Love makes me feel good inside and my heart is fixed’: What adults with intellectual disabilities have to say about love and relationships. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 5, 955–965. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12893

Neubauer, B.E, Witkop, C.T, Varpio, L. (2019). How phenomenology can help us learn from the experiences of others. Perspectives on Medical Education, 8(2), 90-97. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40037-019-0509-2

Neuman, R. (2020a). Attitudes of direct support staff regarding couple relationships of adults with intellectual disability: implications for the provision of support. Journal of Social Service Research, 46(5), 713-725. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2019.1648361

Neuman, R. (2020b). Establishing and maintaining couple relationships as perceived by couples with intellectual disabilities: implications for families, support staff, and policy change. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 17(2), 132–142. https://doi.org/10.1111/jppi.12329

Neuman, R. (2021). The life journeys of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: implications for a new model of holistic supports. Journal of Social Service Research, 47(3), 327–342. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2020.1802396

O’Donohue, W., Burleigh, K., Kinzler, A.D. (2019). Capturing the unique nature of the human sciences: The second demarcation problem. Behavior and Philosophy, 47, 15-33. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26921921.

Osborne, N., Grant-Smith, D. (2021). In-depth interviewing. In Baum, S. (Ed.), Methods in Urban Analysis (p. 105-125). Springer.

Parahoo, K. (2014). Nursing research, principles process and issues (3rd ed.). Palgrave MacMillan.

Pietkiewicz, I., Smith, J. (2014). A practical guide to using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis in qualitative research psychology. Psychological Journal, 20 (1), 7-14. https://doi.org/10.14691/CPPJ.20.1.7

Puyaltó, C., Pallisera, M., Fullana, J., Díaz-Garolera, G. (2022). Challenges of having a loving partner: the views of adults with intellectual disabilities. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 68, 64-72. https://doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2019.1701786

Retznik, L., Wienholz, S., Höltermann, A., Conrad, I., Riedel-Heller, S. G. (2021). “It tingled as if we had gone through an anthill.” Young people with intellectual disability and their experiences with relationship, sexuality and contraception. Sexuality and Disability, 39, 421–438. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-020-09670-z

Retznik, L., Wienholz, S., Höltermann, A., Conrad, I., Riedel-Heller, S. G. (2022). Young people with intellectual disability and their experiences with intimate relationships: a follow-up analysis of parents’ and caregivers’ perspectives. Sexuality and Disability, 40, 299–314. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-021-09721-z

Rojas, S., Haya, I., Lazaro-Visa, S. (2014). ‘My great hope in life is to have a house, a family and a daughter’: relationships and sexuality in intellectually disabled people. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 44, 56–62. https://doi.org/10.1111/bld.12110

Rushbrooke, E., Murray, C., Townsend, S. (2014). The experiences of intimate relationships bypeople with intellectual disabilities: A qualitative study. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 27(6), 531-541. https://doi.org/10.1111/bld.12110

Stoffelen, J., Schaafsma, D., Kok, G., Curfs, L. M. G. (2019). Views on sex using the nominal group technique to explore sexuality and physical intimacy in individuals with intellectual disabilities. Sexuality and Disability, 37, 227–244. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-018-9550-z

Sullivan, F., Bowden, K., McKenzie, K., Quayle, E. (2013). ‘Touching people in relationships’: a qualitative study of close relationships for people with an intellectual disability. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 22, 3456–3466. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.12375

Teherani, A., Martimianakis, T., Stenfors-Hayes, T., Wadhwa, A., Varpio, L. (2015). Choosing a qualitative research approach. Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 7(4), 669-670. https://doi.org/10.4300/JGME-D-15-00414.1

Vahav, H., Hagoel, H., Sara, F. (2015). Singlehood among adults with intellectual disability: psychological and sociological perspectives. Acta Psychopathologica, 1, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.4172/2469-6676.100011

Ward, K. M., Bosek, R. L., Trimble, E.L. (2010). Romantic relationships and interpersonal violence among adults with developmental disabilities. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 48(2), 89–98. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-48.2.89

Yau, M. K., Ng, G. Sz.-M., Lau. D. Y., Chan, K. S., Chan, J. S. (2009). Exploring sexuality and sexual concerns of adult persons with intellectual disability in a cultural context. The British Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 55(109), 97-108. https://doi.org/10.1179/096979509799103089

Żyta, A., Ćwirynkało, K. (2020). Związki uczuciowe osób z niepełnosprawnością intelektualną. [Intimate relationships of persons with intellectual disabilities]. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Warmińsko-Mazurskiego.

Żyta, A. (2020). The place of the family of origin in romantic relationships of adults with intellectual disabilities. Interdisciplinary Contexts of Special Pedagogy, 29, 25–44. https://doi.org/10.14746/ikps.2020.29.02




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17951/lrp.2024.43.2.109-129
Date of publication: 2024-09-05 10:36:42
Date of submission: 2023-09-19 11:56:39


Statistics


Total abstract view - 80
Downloads (from 2020-06-17) - PDF - 17

Indicators





Copyright (c) 2024

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.