J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2011 Apr;35(2):279-286.

Factors Influencing Sexual Adjustment in People with Spinal Cord Injuries

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Rehabilitation Psychology, Daegu University, Gyeongsan 712-714, Korea. iooi1011@hanmail.net
  • 2Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Seoul 142-884, Korea.

Abstract


OBJECTIVE
To determine the factors which influence the level of sexual adjustment. METHOD: A total of 96 subjects were enrolled in this study. The measuring instruments consisted of the dependent variables related to the perception of sexual adjustment and the independent variables that have an influence on sexual adjustment. The dependent variables were comprised of three sub-elements: satisfaction with sexual life, negative attitudes and prejudices, and sexual attractiveness. The independent variables were comprised of physical factors including sexual functioning; psychological factors including self-esteem, depression, the acceptance of disability, and ego-resilience; and domestic factors including feelings of intimacy with the partner, and support from family.
RESULTS
The level of the sexual adjustment in men with spinal cord injury (SCI) was relatively high. When considering the correlation between the factors and sexual adjustment, the level of intimacy with the partner showed the highest correlation, followed by depression, ego-resilience, self-esteem, acceptance of disability, support from family, and sexual functioning, respectively. Finally, sexual adjustments were mainly influenced by psychological and domestic factors such as the intimacy with the partner and depression.
CONCLUSION
Despite the disability of sexual function, men with SCI, recorded overall high levels of the sexual adjustment. The level of intimacy with the partner and depression were the variables that had effects on sexual adjustment.

Keyword

Spinal cord injury; Sexual Adjustment; Intimacy; Depression

MeSH Terms

Depression
Humans
Male
Prejudice
Spinal Cord
Spinal Cord Injuries
Full Text Links
  • JKARM
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr