Risk of forced marriage amongst people with learning disabilities in the UK: Perspectives of South Asian carers

McCarthy, M.; Clawson, R.; Patterson, A.; Fyson, A.; Khan, L.

Abstract

Background: People with intellectual disabilities are at increased risk of forced marriage in comparison to those without intellectual disabilities. In the UK this risk is particularly, though not exclusively, associated with South Asian communities and is linked to the desire to secure long-term care.
Method: Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were undertaken with South Asian parents and family carers (n=22) of adults with intellectual disability and the resultant data thematically analysed.
Results: Although securing care for their intellectually disabled son or daughter was identified as a key motivator for forced marriage, other important themes also emerged. These included not only cultural and religious beliefs about disability and marriage, but also limited understanding of relevant laws. Factors militating against forced marriage were also identified, including fears of abuse and neglect.
Conclusions: The implications for the provision of services and the need for improved access to information on forced marriage of people with intellectual disabilities are highlighted.

Citation

McCarthy, M., Clawson, R., Patterson, A., Fyson, A., & Khan, L. (2021). Risk of forced marriage amongst people with learning disabilities in the UK: Perspectives of South Asian carers. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 34(1), 200-210. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12798

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 15, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Sep 17, 2020
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Deposit Date: Sep 4, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 18, 2021
• Journal: Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities
• Print ISSN: 1360-2322
• Electronic ISSN: 1468-3148
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 200-210
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12798
• Keywords: Forced marriage; intellectual disability; South Asian carers; capacity and consent to marry; ethnicity
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4881714
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jar.12798