Sexual adjustment, defined within this study as post-injury sexual views of
the self, among 109 men and 86 women with spinal cord injury (SCI) was exp
lored through cognitive adaptation theory [30]. It was predicted that cogni
tive adaptation constructs (i.e., personal control, optimism, meaning, and
self-esteem) and sexual self-esteem would be predictive of sexual adjustmen
t. It was also hypothesized that sexual self-esteem would be predictive of
sexual adjustment over and above cognitive adaptation constructs. A series
of hierarchical regression models were performed with results being consist
ent with proposed hypotheses. Implications for rehabilitation professionals
are discussed and clinical suggestions are provided.