The contribution of bio-psycho-social dimensions on sexual satisfaction in people with spinal cord injury and their partners: an explorative study.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional explorative observational study. TITLE: Sexual satisfaction in people with spinal cord injury and their partners: an explorative study. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the determinants of sexual satisfaction among individuals with spinal cord injury and relative partners by assuming a bio-psycho-social perspective. SETTING: Online survey. METHODS: Thirty-eight individuals (22 individuals with SCI and their partners) were provided with an anonymous self-report questionnaire. Bio-psycho-social dimensions were investigated by using the Barthel Modified Index, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Sexual attitudes of participants were assessed via the Multidimensional Sexual Self-Concept Questionnaire (Snell, 1993). RESULTS: While no differences were observed between individuals with SCI and their partners, women with SCI were overall more satisfied about their sexual life when compared to men with SCI. Coping strategies promoting self-efficacy and an active role in the sexual issues were predictive of Sexual Satisfaction in the couples of persons with SCI and their partners. No significant contribution was played by physical variables. CONCLUSION: A tailored-made approach assessing the needs of both individuals with SCI and partners is a key aspect for effective sexual rehabilitation protocols. According to the needs and features of each couple, health professionals should drive individuals with SCI and partners to cope with their sexuality within a bio-psycho-social framework underlying it.

Differences between males and females with spinal cord injury in the experience of subliminal and explicit sexual pictures.

STUDY DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVES: To determine the differences between persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) and control individuals in terms of conscious and unconscious sexual responses to subliminally presented visual sexual stimuli. SETTING: Spinal cord injury rehabilitation center in northern Italy. METHODS: A two-part behavioral experiment was conducted on 40 participants (27 individuals with SCI; 13 controls). In first part, all participants were subliminally exposed to a prime picture (neutral or sexual) and asked to rate the extent to which they were emotionally aroused, while watching a set of explicit target pictures (neutral or sexual). In the second part, choice reaction time task was employed, wherein participants were shown a subliminal prime picture (neutral or sexual) followed by an explicit target picture (neutral or sexual) superimposed by a black dot and were asked to locate the dot as fast as possible. RESULTS: In the first part, men with SCI reported higher levels of emotional arousal to explicit sexual target pictures compared to other groups. In the second part, slower choice reaction times were found in the SCI group, particularly with sexual prime picture. Moreover, females with SCI spent more time during implicit motor learning tasks with sexual target pictures than other groups. CONCLUSION: We found differences in the experience of subliminal and explicit sexual pictures not only between the two groups, but also between females and males with SCI. Attention should thus be paid when considering sexual experience at subliminal and conscious level in SCI population for future research and rehabilitative protocols.