Sexuality of people with intellectual disabilities in residential settings: A narrative review of staff and residents’ perspectives
Sexuality of people with intellectual disabilities in residential settings: A narrative review of staff and residents’ perspectives

Summary/Abstract: Sexuality is a fundamental aspect of human identity, yet people with intellectual disabilities continue to face barriers in expressing their sexual rights, particularly within residential services. This narrative review synthesises international and Czech studies exploring how staff perceive and manage sexuality and how people with intellectual disabilities themselves experience and express it. Findings indicate persistent ambivalence among staff, reflecting a tension between safeguarding and autonomy, limited training, and the absence of clear institutional policies. From the residents’ perspective, sexuality represents an essential part of personal identity, often constrained by stigma, restrictive practices, and inadequate sexuality education. Both perspectives expose the dominance of risk-averse cultures that limit sexual autonomy. Promoting rights-based and empowering approaches requires professional education, participatory practices, and organisational change. Future research should address gendered dimensions, address underexplored topics such as parenthood, emotional intimacy, or abuse prevention, and prioritise the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities as active participants in shaping knowledge about their own sexuality.

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