Sexual Partner Accumulation From Adolescence to Early Adulthood in Populations With Physical Disabilities in the U.S

This study aimed to examine the lifetime and pre-18 sexual partnering patterns of populations with physical disabilities from adolescence to early adulthood and how these patterns further vary by biological sex, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation.

Data were from 13,458 respondents to Waves I and IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Poisson regression models were used to assess differences in pre-18 and lifetime sexual partner counts among populations with physical disabilities compared with those without disabilities. Moderation analyses by biological sex, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation were used to consider further differences among minority subgroups.

The results indicated more similarities than differences in sexual partnering patterns across disability severity groups. Specifically, populations with disabilities had just as many pre-18 and lifetime sexual partners as peers without disabilities. There was variation by biological sex, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation, although this was not tied to disability status.

These results fill an important gap in the literature by considering the sexual partnering behaviors of populations with physical disabilities in the U.S. over the life course. Future research should continue to include populations with disabilities and other minority groups to ensure that their experiences are represented in sexual health policies and programs.