Evaluation of sexual development characteristics of children with intellectual disability in the adolescent period with opinion of parents: A scale development study

In this study, it was aimed to determine the sexual developmental characteristics of individuals with intellectual disabilities by their parental views. For this purpose, 'Sexual Development Characteristics of Children with Adolescent Intellectual Disability' scale was developed. The scale was applied for explanatory factor analysis of 310, confirmatory factor analysis and 550 parents to obtain the findings of the research. In other words, this scale has been applied to a total of 860 parents. The data of the research were collected by using the scale and family information form prepared by scanning the literature by the researcher. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS and LISREL packet programs. At the end of the analysis, it was determined that the Cronbach Alpha Coefficient was 0.85 for the whole scale, and the 9 dimensional structure of the scale was confirmed by the compliance statistics obtained from the confirmatory factor analysis. According to the findings of the study, it was evaluated that the children with intellectual disability in adolescence had a significant difference according to their sexual development characteristics, parents' gender, educational status, living together with their husbands and gender, age and obstacle grade variables. As a result, parents do not have enough knowledge about their child's sexual development characteristics. For the sexual development of children; family education programs that include physical, emotional, social, and sexual changes, and that cultural, religious and legal aspects should be taken into account when creating these programs.