Exploring the Perceptions of Men with Intellectual Disabilities Regarding Their Long-Term Partnerships

Introduction: Although researchers have been increasingly interested in de facto partnerships between people with intellectual disabilities (ID), there have been few studies concerning males, especially those who succeeded in developing long-term relations. Research Aim: The study aimed to understand how males with ID perceive their relationships and the meanings they ascribe to them. Method: Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to explore this aim. Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted with males with ID who were in a long-term intimate relationship. Results: The analysis allowed us to identify four superordinate themes: (1) Meanings ascribed to partners, (2) Road to building a partnership, (3) Barriers on the road to building and functioning in a relationship, and (4) Relationships of the males under study with women: from harmony to conflicts and relationship breakups, followed by several constituent themes. Conclusion: The study has shown the importance of relationships to adult males with ID and has helped to identify the favorable factors and barriers in developing and maintaining such relationships.