Lotta Löfgren-Mårtenson

Lust, Love, and Life: A Qualitative Study of Swedish Adolescents' Perceptions and Experiences with Pornography

There is a widespread concern in Western society about the visibility of pornography in public places and on the Internet. What are the consequences for young men and women, and how do they think about gender, sexuality, and pornography? Data was collected, through 22 individual interviews and seven focus groups, from 51 participants (36 women and 37 men aged 14–20 years) in Sweden. The results indicated a process of both normalization and ambivalence. Pornography was used as a form of social intercourse, a source of information, and a stimulus for sexual arousal. Pornography consumption was more common among the young men than among the women. For both the young men and women, the pornographic script functioned as a frame of reference in relation to bodily ideals and sexual performances. Most of the participants had acquired the necessary skills of how to deal with the exposure to pornography in a sensible and reflective manner.

Love in Cyberspace: Swedish Young People with Intellectual Disabilities and the Internet.

The Internet has become an increasingly common way for people to contact each other, to flirt, fall in love and start relationships. How does this development influence todays young people with intellectual disabilities? The article presents a picture of the Internet experiences of some young adults with intellectual disabilities and discusses how others view this usage. It is based on a qualitative study in Sweden where 10 young people with intellectual disabilities and 12 staff members were interviewed. The interviews show that young people with intellectual disabilities also use the Internet, mainly for social and romantic reasons. They view the Internet as a positive arena where they can be “like everybody else” and therefore generally present themselves without mentioning their disabilities. However, people around them tend to worry considerably and focus mainly on the risks involved in this usage of the Internet.

Teachers’ and parents’ views on the Internet and social media usage by pupils with intellectual disabilities

This article reports experiences from a Swedish study, discussing teachers’ and parents’ views on how young people with intellectual disabilities use the Internet and social media. Five semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with teachers (n = 8) in special programmes in upper secondary schools for pupils with intellectual disabilities and parents (n = 5) of pupils in the same form of schooling, and they were analysed with thematic analysis. Teachers more strongly emphasize a pupil’s use of the Internet for interactive purposes. Parents had expectations that the Internet could be a tool for gaining more awareness of one’s own disability and a way to meet other peer group pupils. Teachers’ and parents’ perspectives on the Internet and social media usage are important since it is imperative to show how support can be provided for young people with intellectual disabilities.

Unequal sexual health – Differences between detained youth and their same aged peers

Purpose: To describe sexual health risks in an understudied group, youth in detention, and compare these to sexual health risks among non-detained youth. In addition, variables predicting adverse sexual health outcomes are sought and compared. Methods: In 2009, a self-administered questionnaire on sexuality was conducted amongst youth in Sweden. In 2010, the same Internet-based questionnaire was applied in a study at Swedish detention centres. In this article, sexually active youth aged 15–20 years in the two groups are compared and bivariate logistic regression analyses are conducted in order to find predictors of adverse sexual health outcomes, among detainees and non-detainees respectively. Results: Major differences between the detained and the non-detained concerning a majority of risk-taking variables exist. Conclusions: Although detained youth display several risky sexual behaviors, no specific risk factors are found in a logistic regression analysis. However, this is a vulnerable group. The mere fact that an adolescent is placed at a detention centre should be an imperative for professionals to address the subject of sexual health and safer sex. Furthermore, the results will be used in a forthcoming sex education curriculum tailored especially at detained youth. This is one, but by far not the only way to minimize the health inequalities that are presented in this study.

“It’s their way of protecting them” : Between care and control in an honor context for youths with intellectual disabilities

Today’s multicultural society is characterized by contradictory sexual norms that may have consequences for youths with intellectual disabilities’ possibilities of choosing a partner and expressing ...

Sexual chance taking: a qualitative study on sexuality among detained youths.

Abstract Background Many, although not all, juvenile detainees are known to be sexual risk-takers but little attention has been paid to why they engage in early sexual intercourse, have more partners, often have sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and without protection. Objective To understand the rationale behind sexual risk-taking among detained adolescents. Method Qualitative study of interviews with nine girls and 11 boys, aged 15 to 20 years, at detention centres in southern Sweden. Results Two major categories surface in the analysis of the interviews: contradictions and vulnerability. A core category, chance outdoes risk that describes the adolescents’ pragmatic view on sexual risk-taking as being a chance of something good rather than a risk of something bad, captures the connection between these categories and the individual. Conclusion Among our interviewees, sexual chance taking appears rewarding. Recognising this rationality is valuable for all professionals promoting sexual health within similar groups of youths.

“I’m a mother, but I’m also a facilitator in her every-day life” : Parents’ voices about barriers and support for internet participation among young people with intellectual disabilities

In general, the Internet is an arena where parents (as well as other adults) have limited insight and possibilities to support the young person. However, several studies indicate that parents are one of the most important facilitators in the every-day life of young persons with intellectual disabilities. Therefore, the aim of the current article is to highlight parents’ perceptions and actions in relation to opportunities and barriers for these young people when using the Internet. The empirical material consists of interviews with 22 parents of intellectually challenged young people in Sweden. The transcribed interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis, which is a method of identifying, analysing and reporting patterns within data sets. The results show that parents’ views are double-edged; on the one hand, they see great possibilities for their children, thanks to the Internet, but on the other hand, they are afraid that due to their disability, their children are more sensitive to different contents and interactions on the Internet. Furthermore, the results indicate that parents believe that the Internet can facilitate participation in social life, but that it precludes young people with intellectual disabilities from being part of society in general when it comes to community functions and services. This article will discuss barriers and support in relation to the individual and her or his support system, which brings into focus the parent’s responsibility and support for young people, helping them to surmount barriers – instead of avoiding or ignoring them – and find ways to take action to do so.

New Em@ncipatory Landscapes? Young People With Intellectual Disabilities, Internet Use, and Identification Processes

Although research on young people’s identification processes on the Internet is a growing field, few studies illustrate conditions for young people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Previous studies have shown that young people with ID are worried about being marginalized, and that many in fact are lonelier than other young people. Internet and social networking sites might be of vital importance as a space for exploring alternative and less stigmatized identities. This article reports findings from individual interviews with 27 young people with ID in Sweden. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using a thematic content analysis. A prominent finding concerned the informants being well aware of both risks and opportunities using Internet and Social Networking Sites. Consequently, the more they interacted with non-disabled peers, the more they experienced negative consequences of Internet use. These circumstances rather lead to downsizing than upsizing Internet use, and less participation on Social Networking Sites. The experiences of the informants are discussed in a conceptual framework of social identity, participation, and emancipation. We recommend that social work practitioners reflect upon the ways that support can be arranged in order to empower young people with ID to participate on the Internet.