Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sexual education in spinal cord injury rehabilitation: Current trends and recommendations

  • Published:
Sexuality and Disability Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Persons with spinal cord injuries (SCI) (N=458) representing a national sample were surveyed by mail to determine trends in the provision of sexual education and sexual counseling services in rehabilitation programs. Of the competed responses (N=251), 45% remembered receiving such services. When sexual education/counseling services were provided, the components of the services varied considerably, and; for the most part, the subject of sexuality was superficially treated. Only 48% of those who received such services reported the services they received met their needs (N=53). The odds of not receiving sexual education or sexual counseling services for female respondents were about two times greater than for male respondents. The study also reveals a gap between services provided during rehabilitation and services desired by consumers. Recommendations are then offered for the development of sexual education and sexual counseling programs that may better meet the needs of persons with SCI.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cole TM, Cole SS: Rehabilitation of Problems of Sexuality in Physical Disability.In Krusen's Handbook of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, fourth edition, EH Wickland Jr (ed). Philadelphia, WB Saunders Company, 1990, pp 988–1008

    Google Scholar 

  2. Teal JC, Athelstan GC: Sexuality and Spinal Cord Injury: Some Psychosocial Considerations. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 56:264–268, 1975

    Google Scholar 

  3. Stewart TD: Sex, Spinal Cord Injury and Staff Rapport. Rehabilitation Literature 42(11–12):347–350, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  4. Sawyer HW, Allen HA: Sexuality and Spinal Cord Injured Individuals, A Challenge for Counselors and Trainers. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling 14(4):14–17, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  5. Robbins KH: Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury and Its Impact Upon Sexuality. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling 16(1):24–28, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hohmann GW: Sex and the Spinal Cord Injured Male. Accent on Living Spring, 1973

  7. Spica MM: Sexual Counseling Standards for the Spinal Cord Injured. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing 21(1):56–60, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  8. Chicano LA: Humanistic Aspects of Sexuality as Related to Spinal Cord Injury. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing 21(6):366–369, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  9. Goddard LR: Sexuality and Spinal Cord Injury. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing 20(4):240–244, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  10. Glass DD: Sexual Rehabilitation of the Spinal-Cord Injured. Medical Aspects of Human Sexuality 2(4):257–266, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  11. Brockway JA, Steger JC, Berni R, Ost VV, Williamson-Kirkland TE, Peck CL: Effectiveness of a Sex Education and Counseling Program for Spinal Cord Injured Patients. Sexuality and Disability 1(2):127–136, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  12. Steger JC, Brockway JA: Sexual Enhancement in Spinal Cord Injured Patients: Behavioral Group Treatment. Sexuality and Disability 3(2):84–96, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  13. Eisenberg MG, Rustad LC: Sex Education and Counseling Program on a Spinal Cord Injury Service. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 57:135–140, 1976

    Google Scholar 

  14. Halstead LS, Halstead MM, Joyce JT, Stock DD, Sparks RW: A Hospital-Based Program in Human Sexuality. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 58:409–412, 1977

    Google Scholar 

  15. Held JP, Cole TM, Held CA, Anderson C, Chilgren RA: Sexual Attitude Reassessment Workshops: Effect on Spinal Cord Injured Adults, Their Partners and Rehabilitation Professionals. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 56:14–18, 1975

    Google Scholar 

  16. Brockway JA, Steger JC: Sexual Attitude and Information Questionnaire: Reliability and Validity in a Spinal Cord Injured Population. Sexuality and Disability 3(4):49–60, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  17. Chipouras S, Cornelius C, Daniels SM, Makas E: Who Cares? A handbook on sex education and counseling services for disabled people. The Sex and Disability Project, George Washington University, 1979

  18. Zwerner J: Yes We Have Troubles but Nobody's Listening: Sexual Issues of Women with Spinal Cord Injury. Sexuality and Disability 5(3):158–171, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  19. Dillman DA: Mail and Telephone Surveys: The Total Design Method. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1978

  20. Aday LA: Designing and Conducting Health Surveys, A Comprehensive Guide. Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1989

  21. National Spinal Cord Injury Association, Fact Sheet No. 2: Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Information. Summarized and excerpted from Spinal Cord Injury: The Facts and Figures. Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1986

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. One Tamarac Ridge Circle, 06484, Huntington, Connecticut

    Mitchell S. Tepper M.P.H.

Authors
  1. Mitchell S. Tepper M.P.H.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

A thesis presented to the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 1991.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tepper, M.S. Sexual education in spinal cord injury rehabilitation: Current trends and recommendations. Sex Disabil 10, 15–31 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01102245

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01102245

Key words

Search

Navigation