S.A., Canada, the UK, Australia, and Finland.
To begin, the age range of study populations can be problematic, as the social experiences and social environment of an 85-year-old may be wildly divergent than an 11-year-old, for example. Further, the recollections (after the fact) of an adult may be greatly different than those of someone in the throes of puberty and new social and sexual experiences. Similarly, diagnoses, and location between the papers could lead to a great divergence in the study populations. Differences in IQ assessment between the papers may also have created a disparity of IQs. Essentially, the authors may have cast their net a bit too wide in their analysis.
Overall, Wiegerink et al.'s (2006) analysis provides a useful overview of the problems faced by adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy. Further research, however, should attempt to more painstakingly describe how the many factors influencing social and sexual relationship in this population interact. In addition, further research should aim to more clearly describe the issues facing individuals with cerebral palsy specifically, rather than simply focusing on the larger cohort of individuals with other mental and physical disabilities (as done in at least 12 of the papers...
Understanding the factors influencing the social and sexual relationships of young adults and adolescents with cerebral palsy can play an important role in understanding some of the larger issues faced by these individuals. Issues of control and independence are important in these contexts, as in other aspects of the lives of people with disabilities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, in Social and Sexual Relationships of Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: A Review, Wiegerink et al. (2006) provide a useful glimpse into the challenges faces by these individuals. Although several flaws exist in the analysis because of the review's broad scope, it does provide a useful starting point for a discussion of the challenges faced by disabled individuals in larger society.
References
Wiegerink DJ, Roebroeck ME, Donkervoort M, Stam HJ, and Cohen-Kettenis PT. 2006. Social and Sexual Relationships of Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: A Review. Clin Rehabil. Dec;20(12):1023-31.
