Sexual violence among adolescents with moderate mental disabilities in institutions

This thesis explores to which extent, if any at all, sexual violence occurs among adolescents with moderate dysfunction inside institutions and the means and frequency of expert workers' active participation in the prevention of the mentioned issue. In the first part, adolescent characteristics that are more or less present with all the adolescents, regardless of the presence or lack of mental development dysfunction, are introduced. Mental development dysfunction with special emphasis on moderate mental development dysfunction is defined, as well as sexual behaviour and the experiencing of love and sexuality in persons with the said dysfunction. The term sexual violence is explained and the Upbringing and education special program in areas that encompass sexual education goals is analysed. In the second part, the results of the empirical research that comprised seventeen adolescents with moderate mental development dysfunction and thirty special and rehabilitation pedagogues, are shown. The data that is shown was gathered using individual interviews of the adolescents with moderate mental development dysfunction and questionnaires for the special and rehabilitation pedagogues. The research shows that 43 % of the adolescents with moderate mental development dysfunction express their affection, love toward other people by hugging them – anytime and anywhere. These adolescents' understanding and perception of love varies a lot. 65 % of adolescents with moderate mental development dysfunction are of the opinion that there is no difference between expressing love, affection toward their parents, friends or their girlfriend/boyfriend. Among peers, 59 % of the adolescents with moderate mental development dysfunction have noticed the presence of sexual abuse, while 41 % of them have confirmed being victims of the said abuse themselves. 77 % of the special and rehabilitation pedagogues have noticed sexual abuse among their students and half of the pedagogues are of the opinion that the abuse happens most often during the recess period. The most common behaviours displayed are hugging and groping. In the peadagogues' opinion, the victims of the sexual abuse are girls as well as boys. 68% of the special and rehabilitation pedagogues answered that more could be done in the area of preventing sexual abuse among adolescents with moderate mental development dysfunction. As much as 82 % of the pedagogues would want to be additionally educated and trained on the topic of sexual abuse