Parents' perceptions regarding couple relationships of their adult children with intellectual disabilities.

Background: A particular challenge facing parents of children with intellectual disabilities occurs when their adult children with intellectual disabilities has an interest in pursuing couple relationships. This study explores parents' perceptions regarding the nature of couple relationships, the right of their adult children with intellectual disabilities to pursue such relationships, the difficulties their children encounter and their own role in providing support.

Method: Interviews were conducted with 30 parents of adults with intellectual disabilities who had left home for independent and semi-independent living arrangements. A thematic content analysis was conducted.

Results: Whereas parents used "mutual support" to characterize couple relationships in general, they viewed their children with intellectual disabilities as primarily focused on "physical intimacy" and the couple relationship as a "status symbol," as well as expressed reservations about their becoming parents.

Conclusions: Parents should be helped to adopt a more consistent and positive attitude towards their intellectual disabilities children's pursuit of couple relationships.