Exploring the Influence of
                    LGBTQ
                    + and Religious Attitudes in Sexual Health Education for College Students With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Kristin J. Lurie; Rebekkah L. Gross; Raeshann Berry; Lori B. Vincent; Brittany E. Hayes; Kerri A. Wolfer

doi:10.1111/jar.70221

journal article Open Access Mar 01, 2026

Exploring the Influence of LGBTQ + and Religious Attitudes in Sexual Health Education for College Students With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Kristin J. Lurie

Rebekkah L. Gross Raeshann Berry Lori B. Vincent

Brittany E. Hayes

Kerri A. Wolfer

Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities Vol. 39 No. 2 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1111/jar.70221

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background
Comprehensive sexual health education is a human right routinely denied to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Although queerness and religion are critical parts of comprehensive sexual health education, they are rarely addressed in the literature.

Methods
Fifteen college students with intellectual and developmental disabilities enrolled in a programme that includes a sexual health education course participated in semi‐structured interviews about the class. Responses related to attitudes about religion, gender identity and sexual orientation were thematically analysed.

Results
Participants expressed varied views about religion and queerness influenced by factors including the desexualisation stereotype (the widespread idea that disabled people should not be sexually active), access to formal and informal sexual health education and restrictive religious teachings.

Conclusions
The diversity in perspectives shown here is an important consideration for the development of sexual health education programmes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in educational and community‐based settings.

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Details

Published: Mar 01, 2026
Vol/Issue: 39(2)
License: View

Authors

K

Kristin J. Lurie

School of Criminal Justice University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Ohio USA

R

Rebekkah L. Gross

School of Criminal Justice University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Ohio USA

R

Raeshann Berry

School of Human Services University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Ohio USA

L

Lori B. Vincent

School of Human Services University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Ohio USA

B

Brittany E. Hayes

School of Criminal Justice University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Ohio USA

K

Kerri A. Wolfer

School of Education University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Ohio USA

Cite This Article

Kristin J. Lurie, Rebekkah L. Gross, Raeshann Berry, et al. (2026). Exploring the Influence of LGBTQ + and Religious Attitudes in Sexual Health Education for College Students With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 39(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.70221

Exploring the Influence of LGBTQ + and Religious Attitudes in Sexual Health Education for College Students With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

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