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Staff reactions toward the sexual behaviors of people living in institutional settings

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Abstract

According to the normalization principle, people living in institutions due to an intellectual deficiency or another mental disorder should be able to live in an environment that promotes having access to a normal and healthy sex life. However, many socio-historical or environmental factors interfere in such a way that these people are not able to freely and efficiently express their sexuality. The staff's reactions and attitude are considered a determining factor in this situation. Nineteen studies concerning the staff's attitude and reactions are reviewed here and their conclusions are outlined. It seems that the employee's liberalism varies in function of factors such as the sexual orientation of the residents and the public or private characteristics of the expressed sexual behaviors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Succursale A, Case postale 8888, H3C 3P8, Montréal, Québec, Canada

    Gilles Trudel Ph.D. & Gilles Desjardins M.A.

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  1. Gilles Trudel Ph.D.
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  2. Gilles Desjardins M.A.
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Trudel, G., Desjardins, G. Staff reactions toward the sexual behaviors of people living in institutional settings. Sex Disabil 10, 173–188 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01102283

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