Perceptions of Romantic Relationships Among Korean Transition-Aged Youth (TAY) with Developmental Disabilities (DD) and Their Parents

Background and Purpose: In Korea, disabled individuals have historically been denied recognition as sexual beings. Despite societal transformations, this prejudicial stance persists, reinforcing the perception of disabled individuals as asexual and depriving them of their sexual self-determination. The transition from a child's protected life to an adult's independent life brings significant sociological, psychological, and biological changes and challenges, including natural experiences of sexual attraction. Critics argue that social work programs and sex education on romantic relationships for transition-aged youth (TAY) with developmental disabilities (DD) in Korea fail to address their specific needs adequately. Sex education targeted at individuals with DD is often criticized for serving as a societal and cultural regulatory mechanism aimed at mitigating risks and ensuring safety, yet ultimately suppressing sexual rights. Despite the importance of romantic relationships in human development, the perspectives of TAY with DD and their parents on this subject remain largely unexplored. In-depth research is warranted to investigate the perceptions and attitudes of both parties toward romantic relationships. Such research would help identify the similarities and differences in their perspectives, which could inform the development of tailored interventions and support systems. This study aims to fill this gap in research.

Methods: Eight pairs of TAY with DD and their mothers were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling methods. Of the eight TAYs with DD, there were five males and three females with an average age of 21.1. Four had autism and four had an intellectural disability. Interviews were conducted virtually and followed an in-depth, semi-structured format. The content analysis was conducted separately on TAY with DD and mothers, followed by identifying the similarities and differences between the two groups.

Results: The study found that TAY with DD were interested in dating, but dating experiences were limited. TAY refrained from romantic relationships due to school rules, parental disapproval, and personal unpreparedness. They also felt uneasy discussing dating due to their parents' unfavorable views. With mothers, some mothers expressed unsupportive attitudes towards their children's dating due to concerns about unplanned pregnancy, daughters becoming victims of sexual violence, and sons being accused of sexual violence - fears that would add further burden to the family. Other mothers showed a lack of interest, assuming that their children were not interested in dating, which contradicted their children's statements. These attitudes may stem from Confucian values, the cultural stigma around sexuality, and the lack of services for individuals with developmental disabilities. However, some mothers express hope for their children's future intimate relationships and start their own families. All mothers supported the right to self-determination of persons with developmental disabilities in most aspects of their lives.

Conclusions and Implications: The results emphasize the significance of recognizing the influence of social work programs and sex education in the context of preparing TAY with DD for independence, particularly in relation to romantic relationships. They also bring attention to the need for involving and collaborating with families, in these efforts. These insights could be used to enhance sex education programs for all parties involved.