Sexual abuse and neglect of adults with mental retardation: A comparison of victim characteristics

Sexual abuse of adults with mental retardation is perpetrated not only by paid staff, family members and people without disabilities, but also by other adults with mental retardation. Fifty-six percent of the 171 substantial cases of sexual abuse of adults with mental retardation involved paid staff, family members and others while 42% of the cases involved perpetrators who were other adults with mental retardation. This study compared characteristics of the victims of each group of perpetrators such as level of mental retardation, sex, age, use of psychotropic drugs and physical restraint and location of abuse. A description of the perpetrators was also included. Possible reasons for sexual abuse and suggestions for further research were discussed.