Korean J Rehabil Nurs.  2000 Jun;3(1):80-97.

Sexual Adjustment Process of Individuals with Spinal cord Injury

• Kang HS
• Koh JE
• Suh YO
• Yee OH

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify and describe a process of sexual adjustment of individuals with spinal cord injury: and to describe and explore positive and negative influences on the adjustment process. This qualitative study was conducted with 10 Korean individuals with spinal cord injury who had been physically disabled for more than one year. Data were collected and analysed at a same time using grounded theory method. Major categories of this study showed a process how the individuals with spinal cord injury adjust to their individual life as sexual beings. The process included Changes of life caused by physical disability> Emotional distress> Stability of life> Recognition of self as a sexual being> Re-establishing own sense of values for sexual life> Behavioral efforts for restoration of sexual life> and individual responses to the behavioral efforts including Frustration> Resignation> Satisfaction> Dissatisfaction> and Limited satisfaction>. Initially physical aspects of sexuality seemed to be affected by spinal cord injuries. The changed physical aspects then influenced other aspects of their sexual life. Life satisfaction of each individual as a sexual being revealed as very subjective. It could be defined according to how the individual approved their sexual life no matter what and how much behavioral effort the person had done. In this study 3 types of sexual adjustment aspects were explored: 'Active adjustment' 'Passive adjustment' 'Maladjustment'. There were negative and positive factors influencing the adjustment process of individuals with spinal cord injury. Those factors might come from themselves. from families. or from social situations. Findings of this study suggested that sexual life of individuals with spinal cord injury should not be understood as a physical or behavioral matter. It was a combination of physical. psychological and social aspects of life. Therefore. appropriate rehabilitation programs for the sexual adjustment of individuals with spinal cord injury need to concern heterogeneous life values of them and obtain individualized services for each individual at a different stage of the sexual adjustment process.

MeSH Terms

Disabled Persons
Humans
Rehabilitation
Sexuality
Spinal Cord Injuries*
Spinal Cord*