Author: Saira Jabeen
Supervisor: Rukhsana Kausar, PhD & Aasma Yousaf
Degree: MS
Year: 2011-2013
University: Centre for Clinical Psychology, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan
Abstract
The current study was aimed to investigate the inappropriate sexual behaviors exhibited by adolescents with autism and mental retardation and distress in their mothers. It was hypothesized that (a) adolescents with autism and mental retardation will likely to differ in inappropriate sexual behaviors, (b) mothers of adolescents with autism and mental retardation will likely to differ in distress (c) there will likely to be relationship between inappropriate sexual behaviors of adolescents with autism and mental retardation and distress in their mothers, (d) inappropriate sexual behaviors will likely to predict distress in mothers of adolescents with autism and mental retardation. Between group research design was used. Sample was selected through non-probability purposive sampling strategy that was consisted of two groups, 40 mothers and teachers of adolescents with autism and 50 mothers and teachers of adolescents with mental retardation from different institutes of children with special needs. Teachers and mothers were included in the study because adolescents also spent sufficient time in school settings as well as in home settings. Childhood Autism Rating Scale (Schopler, Reichier & Rennerin, 1988), Solosson Intelligence Test (Solosson, 1963), Sexual Behaviors Scale (Stokes & Kaur, 2005), and Parental Stress Scale (Berry &Jones, 1995) were administered respectively. Independent sample t- test indicate that adolescents with autism showed more inappropriate sexual behaviors, have low knowledge of privacy, and low socialization in comparison to adolescents with mental retardation. No significant differences were found in distress experienced by mothers of adolescents with autism and mental retardation Pearson product moment correlation identified significant positive relationship between inappropriate sexual behaviors and maternal distress (p< .01). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses identified privacy behaviors as significant predictors of distress in mothers. The findings of the present study will be helpful for teachers working in special schools and also for mothers to understand the sexual behaviors of adolescents with mental disabilities.
Keywords: Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors, Autism, Mental Retardation, Distress.
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