Abstract
Study design:
A cross-sectional survey.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to identify and assess the sexual activity and perceived sexual satisfaction of Korean males with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to identify factors influencing sexuality and satisfaction.
Setting:
Community residents with SCI.
Methods:
A total of 139 male participants with SCI in Korea were eligible for inclusion in this study. All participants completed a face-to-face interview regarding sexuality and satisfaction, as well as structured questionnaires including items on socioeconomic factors, medical conditions and rehabilitation services.
Results:
A total of 90 participants (65%) were engaged in sexual activity. A period of 21–25 years since SCI (compared with the initial 5 years since SCI) and an experience of direct sexual rehabilitation education were positively associated with sexual activity. Among 90 sexually active males with SCI, 8 (8.9%) and 56 (62.2%) were sexually satisfied and unsatisfied, respectively. Lower levels of education were strongly correlated with sexual dissatisfaction.
Conclusion:
Korean males with SCI showed low levels of satisfaction regarding sexual activities. Results showed that socioeconomic factors (e.g., state of employment and direct person-to-person sexual counseling services) had a greater impact on sexual activity than the degree of physical impairment. Notably, the educational background was the most influential factor on sexual satisfaction.
Similar content being viewed by others
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
References
Ackery A, Tator C, Krassioukov A . A global perspective on spinal cord injury epidemiology. J Neurotrauma 2004; 21: 1355–1370.
Lindner H . Perceptual sensitization to sexual phenomena in the chronic physically handicapped. J Clin Psychol 1953; 9: 67–68.
Anderson KD . Targeting recovery: priorities of the spinal cord-injured population. J Neurotrauma 2004; 21: 1371–1383.
Kennedy P, Lude P, Taylor N . Quality of life, social participation, appraisals and coping post spinal cord injury: a review of four community samples. Spinal Cord 2006; 44: 95–105.
Alexander CJ, Sipski ML, Findley TW . Sexual activities, desire, and satisfaction in males pre- and post-spinal cord injury. Arch Sex Behav 1993; 22: 217–228.
Julia PE, Othman AS . Barriers to sexual activity: counselling spinal cord injured women in Malaysia. Spinal Cord 2011; 49: 791–774.
Celik EC, Akman Y, Kose P, Arioglu P, Karatas M, Erhan B . Sexual problems of women with spinal cord injury in Turkey. Spinal Cord 2014; 52: 313–315.
Ide M, Fugl-Meyer AR . Life satisfaction in persons with spinal cord injury: a comparative investigation between Sweden and Japan. Spinal Cord 2001; 39: 387–393.
Siösteen A, Lundqvist C, Blomstrand C, Sullivan L, Sullivan M . Sexual ability, activity, attitudes and satisfaction as part of adjustment in spinal cord-injured subjects. Paraplegia 1990; 28: 285–295.
Reitz A, Tobe V, Knapp PA, Schurch B . Impact of spinal cord injury on sexual health and quality of life. Int J Impot Res 2004; 16: 167–174.
Dahlberg A, Alaranta HT, Kautiainen H, Kotila M . Sexual activity and satisfaction in men with traumatic spinal cord lesion. J Rehabil Med 2007; 39: 152–155.
Moreira ED Jr, Kim SC, Glasser D, Gingell C . Sexual activity, prevalence of sexual problems, and associated help-seeking patterns in men and women aged 40–80 years in Korea: data from the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors (GSSAB). J Sex Med 2006; 3: 201–211.
Corona G, Lee DM, Forti G, O'Connor DB, Maggi M, O'Neill TW, et al. Age-related changes in general and sexual health in middle-aged and older men: results from the European Male Ageing Study (EMAS). J Sex Med 2010; 7: 1362–1380.
McCabe MP, Taleporos G . Sexual esteem, sexual satisfaction, and sexual behavior among people with physical disability. Arch Sex Behav 2003; 32: 359–369.
Berkman AH, Weissman R, Frielich MH . Sexual adjustment of spinal cord injured veterans living in the community. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1978; 59: 29–33.
Tepper MS . Sexual education in spinal cord injury rehabilitation: current trends and recommendations. Sex Disabil 1992; 10: 15–31.
McAlonan S . Improving sexual rehabilitation services: the patient's perspective. Am J Occup Ther 1996; 50: 826–834.
Kreuter M, Sullivan M, Siösteen A . Sexual adjustment after spinal cord injury-comparison of partner experiences in pre- and postinjury relationships. Paraplegia 1994; 32: 759–770.
Nicolosi A, Glasser DB, Kim SC, Marumo K, Laumann EO . GSSAB Investigators’ Group. Sexual behaviour and dysfunction and help-seeking patterns in adults aged 40–80 years in the urban population of Asian countries. BJU Int 2005; 95: 609–614.
Ferreiro-Velasco ME, Barca-Buyo A, de la Barrera SS, Montoto-Marqués A, Vázquez XM, Rodríguez-Sotillo A . Sexual issues in a sample of women with spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 2005; 43: 51–55.
Acknowledgements
We are thankful to the Korea Spinal Cord Injury Association (KSCIA).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Choi, YA., Kang, JH. & Shin, H. Sexual activity and sexual satisfaction in Korean men with spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 53, 697–700 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.2015.55
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.2015.55
This article is cited by
-
Sexuality After Spinal Cord Injury. Which Factors Influence Sexual Activity and Satisfaction?
Sexuality and Disability (2022)
-
Recovery target priorities of people with spinal cord injuries in Korea compared with other countries: a survey
Spinal Cord (2020)
-
The Relationship Between Hopelessness and Sexual Problems in Spinal Cord Injury
Sexuality and Disability (2020)
