Examining the Psychological and Emotional Experience of Sexuality for Men After Spinal Cord Injury

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects motor and sensory function, psychosocial well-being and affects multiple body systems including those involved in sexual function (BieringSrensen, BollingHansen & BieringSrensen, 2012). Sexuality is a basic human necessity and is a vital component for achieving satisfaction with ones overall quality of life (QOL) (Reitz, Tobe, Knapp, & Schurch, 2004). Literature regarding sexuality for men after SCI has focused primarily on physical components, however, sexuality is multifaceted and the psychosocial aspects may be more important than the physical factors for achieving satisfaction with sexual life in this population (Kreuter, Sisteen & Biering-Srensen, 2008). Objectives: 1) Examine issues of sexuality for men after SCI with a focus on the psychological and emotional aspects, and 2) determine whether healthcare provider perspectives of sexuality for men after SCI align with lived experiences and priorities of their patients. Methods/Participants: Study I, Papers 1 and 2: In-depth phenomenological interviews with six men living with SCI. Study II, Paper 3: Delphi method involving an expert panel of 20 men with SCI. Study III, Paper 4: Delphi method involving an expert panel of 13 healthcare providers who work with men who have a SCI. Results: Men with SCI described an evolved meaning of sexuality, placing more emphasis on psychological and emotional aspects such as connection and intimacy. A lack of relevant resources and sexual education was reported by men with SCI, and healthcare providers lacked confidence in their ability to address issues of sexuality. Conclusions/Future Directions: To support sexuality for men after SCI, healthcare providers must first understand the experience of sexuality from the patient perspective including the shift from a physical, genital focus to a deeper, more emotive meaning of sexuality. Areas where healthcare provider perspectives are misaligned with patient experiences should be addressed. Future sexual education and sexual rehabilitation initiatives should be co-created with input from the patient, healthcare provider, researcher and previous literature to improve overall life satisfaction for men after SCI.