The Influence of Parents' Gender Sensitivity on the Gender Role Stereotypes and Sexual Knowledge of Adolescents with Developmental Disabilities

Objectives This study aims to examine the gender sensitivity of parents of adolescents with developmental disabilities and their children's gender role stereotypes and sexual knowledge. It also seeks to explore differences in general characteristics and the correlations between various variables. Methods The study focused on adolescents with developmental disabilities attending special schools or special classes in nine institutions in the Gwangju area and their parents. Participants included students with autism spectrum disorder and mild intellectual disabilities, and data were collected through surveys. The data collected in the study was analyzed using SPSS 22.0 software to calculate the mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis. Afterward, correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationships between the variables. Results First, parents' gender sensitivity was found to be higher when they were younger and employed. Second, as the school level of adolescents with developmental disabilities increased, their sexual knowledge tended to increase, while their gender role stereotypes tended to decrease. Third, the gender sensitivity of parents of adolescents with developmental disabilities showed a significant correlation with their children's gender role stereotypes and sexual knowledge. Conclusions These findings suggest the necessity of programs to improve parents' gender sensitivity to enhance sex education and reduce gender role stereotypes among adolescents with developmental disabilities. Such programs could contribute to reducing gender role stereotypes and fostering proper sexual knowledge in these adolescents.