Korean J Rehabil Nurs.  2000 Jun;3(1):27-42.

A Study on the Sexual Adjustment and Quality of Life in Married Men with Spinal cord Injuries

• Kim YH
• Cho BH

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the degree of sexual adjustment and quality of life in married men with spinal cord injuries and to furnish primary data to sexuality rehabilitation nursing practice which can lead to ideal sexual life and quality of life those men with SCl. Seventy married men with SCI were conveniently sampled in Kwangju, Suncheon, Mokpo and Seoul for responding the questionnaire, which was based on this research. With the research scale, SIS(Sexual interest and satisfaction) by Siosteen et al.. (1990) and SB(Sexual behaviour) by Kreuter et al.(1996) were used for the measurement of sexual adjustment. And, for measuring quality of life was used SCI QL-23(Spinal cord injury of life-23) scale by Lundqvist et al. (1997). Data were collected from January 20 to March 20, 1999, using a structured questionnaire. A hundred volumes of questionnaire were used, and 85 volumes were collected, 70 volumes were used as research data after excluding 15 volumes unsuitable to data analysis. The obtain data were analysed using percentage, t-test. ANOVA. Duncan test, and Pearson's correlation by SAS PC+ program. The results were as follows: 1. The mean score of sexual interest and satisfaction of the subjects was 8.42, out of 18. The ways of their sexual behavior after spinal cord injuries were embracing and caressing (62.9%), kissing(58.6%), caressing breast with hands (55.7%), caressing breast with hands (52.9%), caressing genitals with hands (37.2%), caressing genitals with mouth(30.0%) and sexual intercourse (18.6%). The mean score of quality of life was 52.53 out of 100. 2. Age(F=3.24. p= .045) and caregiver (F=4.02. p=.022)were major variables which reveals significant differences in terms for sexual interest and satisfaction. The later results on Duncan's test showed that subjects who were in their 30s or 40s were significant higher than subjects whose age were in their 50s in their sexual interest and satisfaction. Also subjects with their spouse's care or mother's care were higher than those with other's care. 3. Subjects with incomplete paraplegia were higher than those with the complete paraplegia in sexual interest and satisfaction(F=3.01. p= .036). 4. Variables that showed the significant differences in the quality of life were education(t=2.860. p= .007) and period of marriage(t=2.125. p=.037). and occupational status(t=-2.161. p=.034). High school graduates. those who married before spinal cord injuries and those who didn't have occupation were higher than the other subjects. 5. Variables that revealed significant differences in the quality of life were time passage after spinal cord injuries(F=8.72. p=.001) and injured level of spinal cord(F=3.32. p= .042). Duncan's test showed that subjects who had lived for less than 4 years were higher those with time passage of 5-9 years and 10 years. Also subjects with lumbar injuries were higher than those with thoracic injuries in terms of quality of life. 6. There was negatively correlated between sexual interest and satisfaction and quality of life(r=- .256. p .05). As a result of these findings sexuality rehabilitation for individuals with SCI was very important issue for their quality of life. Thus, registered nurses who care clients with SCI should activily participate in the client's sexual needs. Also, various sexual behaviors as well as sexual intercourse should be encouraged for the sexual adjustment of client's with SCI.

MeSH Terms

Breast
Caregivers
Coitus
Gwangju
Hand
Humans
Jeollanam-do
Male
Occupations
Paraplegia
Quality of Life*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation Nursing
Seoul
Sexual Behavior
Sexuality
Spinal Cord Injuries*
Spinal Cord*
Statistics as Topic
Thoracic Injuries