Introduction: Research suggests that adolescents with Down syndrome experience the same physical and hormonal changes that occur in other people during puberty, the only minor differences observed are the puberty age of boys and the reproductive period of girls, that is, these people also reach puberty like other . Only the social maturity, social communication and self-control in these are delayed and need support from the families. It is important that the expression of sexual feelings by these people is accepted by the family and society, and let's accept that according to their age, have sexual feelings and needs. They are like normal people and they need sex education at puberty and they want to live independently and start a family like other people. Children with DS are just as motivated as all other children to explore, learn, and gain independence for life, despite their limitations in cognitive and adaptive functioning and failure to meet developmental and sociocultural standards for personal independence and social responsibility. The primary aim of this study was to investigate physical and sexual, intellectual maturity in a sample of iranian adolescents with Down syndrome using two widely-used Tanner's physical maturity test and Neo's intellectual maturity test.
Methods: The study was conducted on Iranian with Down syndrome with medical records at Aria Beheshtian Association and People with Down syndrome referred to Valiasr Bomehen Health Center, a total of 30 females and 30 males in two age groups of 14 to 18 years (10 girls and 10 boys) to investigate the physical and sexual maturation process according to Tanner criteria. The group of 19 to 40 years (20 girls and 20 boys) to investigate intellectual maturity with the principle that intellectual and psychological maturity occurs throughout life and specifically, adaptive growth from late adolescence to the years before death. Sampling was purposefully selected from people with Down syndrome who were educable and had the ability to read and write, memorize poetry, and sports and art skills (in order to be able to read and understand Neo questionnaires). Then the test results of the two groups of case and control were compared in different aspects of personality, including the degree of extroversion or introversion, compatibility and emotional stability, interactions and social communication and feeling of sympathy with others, aesthetics, duties and managing one's. The structural equation modeling method was used to analyze the data and data were processed using SPSS 23 software and Cronbach's alpha and correlation index. In order to comply with the ethical charter of the research, only people who themselves and their parents were volunteers and willing to participate in the research were used.
Results: In clinical examinations, according to Tanner's criteria, physical and sexual maturity in people with Down syndrome was similar to the control group, and physical manifestations and expression of sexual needs were observed in both groups. Therefore, the sexual needs and necessary education during puberty for people with Down syndrome should be considered and accepted by the family and society. On the other hand, the results of the NEO test showed that people with Down syndrome were able to answer all the questions in the field of neuroticism, extroversion and conscientiousness, although they needed more time to answer and sometimes the guidance of a consultant, but in the field Being open to experience and adaptability, despite the consultant's guidance and enough time, they could not answer all the questions. These results show that the support of parents and society for people with Down syndrome is a constant need.
Conclusion: Today, with the increase in life expectancy and longevity of people with Down syndrome as a result of advanced health care and treatment, improving the knowledge and attitude of society about the physical, sexual and intellectual maturity of people with Down syndrome will help to improve their quality of life in the future.
Keywords: Down syndrome, puberty, intellectual maturity, sexual feelings, knowledge and attitude of society