SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT AFTER SPINAL-CORD INJURY-COMPARISON OF PARTNER EXPERIENCES IN PREINJURY AND POSTINJURY RELATIONSHIPS

This study compared the emotional and sexual aspects of relationships before and after spinal cord injury, from the partner's point of view. In addition, the personality characteristics of the partners were inv estigated. Twenty-six relationships were established before the injury and 23 after. The couples in preinjury relationships had been married or cohabiting for 3.5-51 years (median 24 years), while postinjury re lationships ranged from 1 to 8 years (median 2 years). There were subs tantial differences in age between preinjury and postinjury partners, 21-79 years (median 51 years) and 18-45 years (median 28 years), respe ctively. Data collection included an 80-item questionnaire, designed t o determine different aspects of sexuality, a visual analogue scale Qu ality of Life (VAS QL) measure and an established inventory of persona lity characteristics, the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP). Eigh ty-eight per cent of the partners in preinjury and 86% in postinjury r elationships considered their overall relationship to be satisfactory. Concerning the sexual aspects of the relationships, several differenc es were revealed, all favouring postinjury relationships. Some of thes e held true even when age was treated as a significant factor and stat istically controlled. Although the frequency of sexual activity and th e variety of sexual expressions used were lower in the preinjury relat ionships, and perceived deterioration of sex life due to the injury wa s higher among preinjury partners, there was no significant difference between the two groups in satisfaction with current sex life. Thus, a ge seems to be a more important factor for sexual adjustment after a s pinal cord injury, rather than whether the relationship is established before or after injury. The partners' personality characteristics dif fered only slightly from those of a sex and age matched reference grou p and not at all between partners in pre- and postinjury relationships .