A Multilevel Model to Assess the Effectiveness of an Affective-Sexual Education Program for People with Intellectual Disabilities: the Influence of Participants’ Characteristics

Abstract

Introduction Personal characteristics have been shown to influence the psychosexual development of people with intellectual disabilities. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the SALUDIVERSEX program about affective-sexual education depending on gender, age, relationship status, and degree of autonomy. Methods Two hundred fifty-four participants, clustered within 28 daytime support services, completed a battery of instru- ments before and after the intervention. The data was collected between January 2021 and April 2022. Results Multilevel analyses, controlling for participant’s dependence within the same center, confirm that the program is equally effective regardless of gender. Likewise, younger participants, who have greater autonomy and who have a partner, seem to benefit more from the intervention. Conclusions This suggests that the SALUDIVERSEX program is a useful tool for educating adults with intellectual dis- abilities on sexuality, when they possess a high degree of autonomy. Policy Implications The present study contributes to the successful replication of the intervention being tested, providing information on the aspects that may be more difficult to learn depending on the personal characteristics of the individuals.