Sexually harmful behaviour in adolescents in a context of gender and intellectual disability: Implications for child psychologists

There is a high prevalence of adolescents presenting with sexually harmful behaviour, with studies identifying 20 per cent to 35 per cent of abuse against same age peers and younger children being committed by adolescents. In addition, there is a high prevalence of adolescents presenting with sexually harmful behaviours who have intellectual disabilities, with figures of 20 per cent to 44 per cent reported in the UK. One school-based UK study found 88 per cent of special schools had regular experience of pupil-related sexually abusive events. This paper will consider the evidence of gender differences in sexually harmful behaviour between adolescents with and without an intellectual disability. The development of sexuality is considered in the context of social understandings of what is seen as culturally normal and that which is seen as abusive behaviour. Suggestions for child psychologists supporting children and schools are provided.