“Tangled up in blue” : Views of parents and professionals on internet use for sexual purposes among young people with intellectual disabilities

Abstract

Introduction & Objectives: This study examines the views of parentsand professionals on internet use for sexual purposes among youngpeople with intellectual disabilities (18–20 yrs.). Although media atten-tion focuses heavily on the risk of deception on the Internet and on easyaccess to pornography, the main concern is articulated in relation tovulnerable groups’ usage. While people with intellectual disabilitiesrequire support by their surroundings, we need to know more abouttheir views on internet usage.Methods: Five semi-structured focus group interviews were con-ducted with professionals (n = 8) working at special schools and withparents (n = 5). The interviews were analysed with thematic analysis,with the theory of sexual scripts guiding the process.Results: The internet is seen as a social arena with complex challengesfor (1) love and sexuality (2), sexual conduct, and (3) sexual risk andopportunities. Even though people with intellectual disabilities areregarded as more vulnerable than other youths, their parents view therisk of their adolescent being lonely as greater than the risk of thembeing abused or misled. Further, girls are viewed as more vulnerableand contact seeking on the internet than boys. Moreover, pornographysites are discussed only when it comes to the boys’ behaviour.Dating unknown persons is connected to the girls’ behaviour. A Net-script consisting of rules is geared towards the young people with anintellectual disability. However, a change to a more nuanced Net-script is shown while the group of youth with intellectual disabilities are seenas more heterogeneous than in earlier research.Conclusion: In-depth knowledge about parents’ and professionals’perspectives on the internet and sexuality is important as their attitudesand behaviour are essential for the young peoples’ access to supportand for opportunities to develop their own capacity and to experiencelove and sexuality.