Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Partner Selection for People with Intellectual Disabilities

Bates, Claire, Terry, Louise, Popple, Keith (2016) Partner Selection for People with Intellectual Disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, . n/a-n/a. ISSN 1360-2322. (doi:10.1111/jar.12254) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:60586)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12254

Abstract

Background

The aim of this research was to understand the characteristics that adults with intellectual disabilities look for in a partner. There have been numerous studies that have explored partner selection for people without intellectual disabilities, but no research that specifically identified the traits valued in a partner by people with intellectual disabilities.

Method

In-depth interviews were conducted with eleven participants across two UK sites. All participants were adults with an intellectual disability who had been in a relationship with a partner for over a year. The narratives were analysed utilizing hermeneutic phenomenology, guided by the theory of Van Manen (1990).

Results

The findings highlighted that, regardless of age, participant's relationships typically developed within a segregated environment for people with intellectual disabilities over the past 10 years. People with intellectual disabilities expressed a wish to be loved, to be treated kindly and to have companionship. However, they did not place high value on attributes such as financial security, social status or intelligence.

Conclusions

The research demonstrated how poorly integrated people with intellectual disabilities are within mainstream society. Desired characteristics and expectations for participant's relationships were rooted in a shared history and culture, which was shaped by their intellectual disability and support needs.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/jar.12254
Uncontrolled keywords: partner selection;intellectual disability;relationships
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Tizard
Depositing User: Matthias Werner
Date Deposited: 28 Feb 2017 10:02 UTC
Last Modified: 17 Aug 2022 12:21 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/60586 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Bates, Claire.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.