Sexuality and Disability

, Volume 6, Issue 3–4, pp 197–212 | Cite as

Attributions about sexuality and romantic involvement of physically disabled college students: An empirical study

  • Kristen Robillard
  • Catherine S. Fichten
Articles

Abstract

Attributions of able-bodied college students concerning sexuality and romantic involvement of physically disabled and able-bodied college students were compared in this study. Ninety-nine able-bodied college students provided information on their previous contacts with disabled people, rated their degree of comfort with both physically disabled and able-bodied peers, and predicted the responses of physically disabled (wheelchair user) and able-bodied male and female college students on a variety of measures. These dealt with: social anxiety, gender role stereotyping, romantic relationships, sexual attitudes and sexual interest and behavior. Results indicate that physically disabled students were perceived as more socially anxious, less gender role stereotyped and less likely to be dating. Males, unlike females, attributed greater interest in sexual activities to disabled than to able-bodied students. Results also indicate that comfort with disabled students was significantly lower than with able-bodied students. Previous close contact with physically disabled people was only marginally related to comfort with wheelchair user students and was unrelated to attributions concerning their sexuality and romantic involvements. The implications of the findings for future research and for the integration of physically disabled students into college life are discussed.

Keywords

Gender Role Social Anxiety Romantic Relationship Sexual Attitude Disable People 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Anthony, W.A: Societal rehabilitation: Changing society's attitudes toward the physically and mentally disabled.Rehabilitation Psychology, 1972,19 117–126.Google Scholar
  2. Antonak, R.F: Prediction of attitudes toward disabled persons: A multivariate analysis.Journal of General Psychology 1981,104 119–123.Google Scholar
  3. Arkowitz, H: Assessment of social skills. In M. Hersen & A.S. Bellack (Eds.),Behavioral assessment (2nd ed.) New York: Pergamon Press, 1981.Google Scholar
  4. Bartel, N.R., & Guskin, S.L: Handicap as a social phenomenon. In W. M. Cruickshank (Ed.),Psychology of exceptional children and youth. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1980.Google Scholar
  5. Beail, N: Physical disability: The self and the stereotype.International Journal of Rehabilitation Research 1983,6 56–57.Google Scholar
  6. Bender, L.F: 1980 Presidential Address to the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine.Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 1981,23 103–108.Google Scholar
  7. Brown, J:A hit and miss affair: Policies for disabled people in Canada. Ottawa: CRCD, 1977.Google Scholar
  8. Byrne, D: Attitudes and attraction. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.),Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 4). New York: Academic Press, 1969.Google Scholar
  9. Cloerkes, G: Determinants of attitudes and behavior toward physically disabled persons: Results of a secondary analysis.International Journal of Rehabilitation Research 1979,2 382–383.Google Scholar
  10. Cole, S.S: Disability/Ability—The importance of sexual health in adolescence: Issues and concerns of the professional.Siecus Report, (1981, May–June), 3–4.Google Scholar
  11. Cole, S.S., & Cole, T.M: Disability and intimacy: The importance of sexual health. In G. Albee, S. Gordon, & H. Leitenberg (Eds.),Promoting sexual responsibility and preventing sexual problems. Hanover: University Press of New England, 1983.Google Scholar
  12. Comarr, A.E: Sexual function among patients with spinal cord injury.Urologia Internationalis 1970,25 124–168.Google Scholar
  13. Daniels, S.M: Correlates of attitudes toward the sexuality of the disabled person in selected health professionals.Sexuality and Disability 1978,1 112–126.Google Scholar
  14. Derogatis, L.R:SCL-90-R: Administration, Scoring and Procedures Manual 1977,1. Baltimore: Clinical Psychometrics Research.Google Scholar
  15. Derogatis, L.R., & Melisaratos, N: The DSFI: A multidimensional measure of sexual functioning.Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy 1979,5 244–281.Google Scholar
  16. Eisibill, N: Sexuality and disability: A model for short term training.Sexuality and Disability 1980,3 79–83.Google Scholar
  17. English, R.W: Correlates of stigma toward physically disabled persons.Rehabilitation Research and Practice Review 1971,2 1–17.Google Scholar
  18. Evans, J.H: Changing attitudes toward disabled persons: An experimental study.Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin (1976, June), 572–579.Google Scholar
  19. Ferguson-Gregory, M:Sexual adjustment: A guide for the spinal cord injured. Bloomington, Illinois: Accent Press, 1974.Google Scholar
  20. Fichten, C.S:Trait attributions about physically disabled college students: Circumplex analyses and methodological issues. Manuscript submitted for publication, 1984.Google Scholar
  21. Fichten, C.S. & Bourdon, C.V:Social interaction between physically disabled and non-disabled college students. Presentation at the Canadian Psychological Association Annual Convention, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Abstracted inResources in Education, in press. (Eric Document Reproduction Service, in press), (1983, June).Google Scholar
  22. Fichten, C.S. & Compton, V:Attributions concerning activity preferences of physically disabled college students. Manuscript submitted for publication, 1984.Google Scholar
  23. Fichten, C.S. & Hines, J:Public awareness of physically disabled people. Manuscript submitted for publication, 1984.Google Scholar
  24. Florian, V: Sex counselling: Comparison of attitudes of disabled and non-disabled subjects.Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 1983,64 81–84.Google Scholar
  25. Ford, A.B., & Orfirer, A.P: Sexual behavior and the chronically ill patient.Medical Aspects of Human Sexuality 1967,10 51–61.Google Scholar
  26. Glasgow, R.E., & Arkowitz, H: The behavioral assessment of male and female social competence in dyadic heterosocial interactions.Behavior Therapy 1975,6 488–498.Google Scholar
  27. Goldenson, R:Disability and rehabilitation handbook. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1978.Google Scholar
  28. Gordon, S., & Everly, P:The sexual adolescent (2nd ed.). Belmont, California: Duxbury Press, 1979.Google Scholar
  29. Greengross, W:Entitled to love: The sexual and emotional needs of the handicapped. London: Malaby Press, 1976.Google Scholar
  30. Hall, P: A comparison on nondisabled and physically disabled freshman college students.Dissertation Abstracts International 1975,36a 4399.Google Scholar
  31. Halstead, L.S: Sexual attitude reassessment programs, rehabilitation professionals and the physically disabled. In A. Comfort (Ed.),Sexual consequences of disability (pp. 255–274). Philadelphia: George T. Stickley Co., 1978.Google Scholar
  32. Heilbrun, A.B: Measurement of masculine and feminine sex role identities as independent dimensions.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1976,44 183–190.Google Scholar
  33. Hohmann, G: Sex and the spinal cord injured male.Rehabilitation Psychology 1972,19 50–58.Google Scholar
  34. Jackman, M: Enabling the disabled.Perspectives: The Civil Rights Quarterly 1983,15 23–26.Google Scholar
  35. Lane, J: Assessment of physically handicapped adult students in college.Dissertation Abstracts International 1967,28A 3511.Google Scholar
  36. MacDougall, J.C. & Morin, S: Sexual attitudes and self-reported behavior of congenitally disabled adults.Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science 1979,11 189–204.Google Scholar
  37. Mayers, K.S: Sexual and social concerns of the disabled: A group counselling approach,Sexuality and Disability 1978,11 100–111.Google Scholar
  38. Mitchell, C: The effects of a sexual issues discussion group on the sexual attitudes and behaviors of physically disabled college students.Sexuality and Disability 1982,5 3–8.Google Scholar
  39. Robinault, I.D:Sex, society and the disabled. N.Y.: Harper & Row, 1978.Google Scholar
  40. Rowlett, J.D: Attitudes of peers toward physically limited students in university resident halls.Dissertation Abstracts International 1982,42 No. 11, 4740-A.Google Scholar
  41. Rubin, Z: Measurement of romantic love.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1970,16 265–273.Google Scholar
  42. Sandowski, M: Sexuality and the paraplegic.Rehabilitation Literature 1976,37 322–324.Google Scholar
  43. Schlesinger, B: Sexuality and the physically handicapped.Canadian Medical Association Journal 1976,114 772–773.Google Scholar
  44. Scott, R.A:The making of blind men. N.Y.: Sage, 1969.Google Scholar
  45. Sedlacek, W.E., & Brooks Jr., G.C: Social acceptability in the measurement of racial attitudes.Psychological Reports 1971,29 17–18.Google Scholar
  46. Siller, J: Attitudes toward disability. In H. Rusalem & D. Malikin, (Eds.),Contemporary vocational rehabilitation. N.Y.: N.Y. University Press, 1976.Google Scholar
  47. Singh, S.P., & Magner, T: Sex and self: The spinal cord-injured.Rehabilitation Literature 1975,36 1–10.Google Scholar
  48. Stovall, C. & Sedlacek, W.E: Attitudes of male and female university students toward students with different physical disabilities.Journal of College Student Personnel 1983,24 325–330.Google Scholar
  49. Watson, D. & Friend, R: Measurement of social-evaluative anxiety.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1969,33 448–457.Google Scholar
  50. Wright, B.A: Spread in adjustment to disability.Bulletin of Mental Clinical Studies 1964,28 198–208.Google Scholar
  51. Wright, B.A:Physical disability: A psychological approach. New York: Harper & Row, 1960.Google Scholar
  52. Yuker, H.E. & Block, J.R:Challenging barriers to change: Attitudes toward the disabled. N.Y.: Human Resources Center, 1979.Google Scholar
  53. Zola, I.K: Denial of emotional needs to people with handicaps.Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 1982,63 63–67.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Human Sciences Press 1983

Authors and Affiliations

  • Kristen Robillard
  • Catherine S. Fichten
    • 1
  1. 1.Dawson CollegeMontrealCanada

Personalised recommendations