Analysis of the Differential Efficacy of the Reduced Version Over the Extended Version of an Affective-Sexual Education Program for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

Recently, with the increase in demand, multiple intervention proposals aimed at improving the sexual health of people with intellectual disabilities have emerged. Among them is the SALUDIVERSEX program, which takes a positive approach to sexuality. It has an extended version, consisting of 16 sessions and whose efficacy has already been proven, and a reduced version of 10 sessions. Thus, the present study aimed to test the differential efficacy of the two versions. A total of 208 participants (103 women and 105 men) aged between 19 and 67 years (M = 37.23, SD = 10.66) completed a battery of instruments before and after the intervention. Statistical analyses showed that users who participated in the reduced version of the program presented a significantly higher rate of improvement in their sexual behaviors compared to those who participated in the extended version (Sexual response: β(10) = − 0.46 ± 0.19, p = .034; Sex practices: β(10) = − 0.52 ± 0.23, p = .037; Use condoms: β(10) = − 1.56 ± 0.59, p = .017), as well as a significantly higher decrease in the risk of suffering sexual abuse (β(10) = 3.95 ± 0.64, p < .001). However, no statistically significant differences in sexuality knowledge were obtained with respect to the improvement between the two versions (β(10) = − 0.09 ± 1.21, p = .94). Meanwhile, the professionals who applied the program found that those who participated in the reduced version, although they presented a significantly greater increase in their knowledge about privacy (β(10) = − 0.48 ± 0.08, p < .001), did not improve their concerns about their inappropriate sexual behaviors as much as the users of the extended version (β(10) = − 1.35 ± 0.21, p < .001). Thus, although both versions were effective, the reduced version seems to do so to a greater extent and in a shorter time, which makes it the more recommendable option.