Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Physical Disability and Sexual Esteem

  • Published:
Sexuality and Disability Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The current study investigated the impact of physical disability on sexual feelings, sexual experiences, and sexual esteem. Thirty-five respondents (18 males and 17 females), with physical disabilities between 19 to 60 years (SD = 10, mean = 38) participated in focus groups where they discussed how their physical disability impacted on their sexuality. They also responded to a series of questions that were designed to examine disability-specific issues in sexual esteem using a four-point Likert-type scale. The data demonstrated that the participants struggled with many social and sexual barriers that were associated with having a physical impairment. This appeared to lead to increased feelings of negativity in many participants, including a belief that they were less sexually desirable than an able-bodied person and that having a disability seriously limited their sexual expression. The implications of these findings for practitioners and suggestions for future research are discussed.

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. Snell WE Jr, Fisher TD, & Walters AS: The Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire: An objective self-report measure of psychological tendencies associated with human sexuality. Annals of Sex Research 6:27–55, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Alexander C, Sipski M & Findley T: Sexual activities, desire, and satisfaction in males pre-and post-spinal cord injury. Archives of Sexual Behavior 22:217–228, 1993.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Berard EJ: The sexuality of spinal cord injured women: physiology and pathophysiology. A review. Paraplegia 27:99–112, 1989.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Charlifue S, Gerhart K, Menter R, Whiteneck G & Manley M: Sexual issues of women with spinal cord injuries. Paraplegia, 30:192–199, 1992.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Cobble ND, Wangaard C, Kraft GH & Burks J: Rehabilitation of the patient with multiple sclerosis. In J DeLisa (Ed.). Rehabilitation Medicine: Principle and Practice Philadelphia: JB Lippincott, 1988, pp. 861–885.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ducharme S, Gill, Biener-Bergman S & Fertitta, L: Sexual functioning: medical and psychological aspects. In J. DeLisa (Ed.). Rehabilitation Medicine: Principle and Practice. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Griffith ER, Tomko MA, & Timms RJ: Sexual function in spinal cord injured patients: a review. Archives Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 54:639–643, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kettl P, Zarefoss S, Jacoby K, Garman C, Hulse C, Rowley F, Corey R, Sredy M, Bixler E & Tyson K: Female sexuality after spinal cord injury. Sexuality and Disability, 9:287–295, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kirkeby HJ, Poulsen EU, Petersen T, & Dorup J: Erectile dysfunction in multiple sclerosis. Neurology 38:1366–1371, 1988.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Lilius HG, Valtonen EJ & Wikstrom J: Sexual problems in patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. Journal of Chronic Disability 29:643–647, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  11. McCabe M, McDonald E, Deeks A, Vowels L & Cobain M: The impact of Multiple Sclerosis on sexuality and relationships. Journal of Sex Research 33:241–248, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Phelps G, Brown M, Chen J, Dunn M, Lloyd E, Stefanick M, Davidson J & Perkash I: Sexual experience and plasma testosterone levels in male veterans after spinal cord injury. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 64:47–52, 1983.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Taleporos G: Sexuality and physical disability. In C. Wood (Ed.). Sexual Positions: An Australian View. Melbourne: Hill of Content Publishing 2001, pp. 155–166.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Teal JC & Athelstan GT: Sexuality and spinal cord injury: Some psychosocial considerations. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 56:264–268, 1975.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Bach J & Bardach J: Neuromuscular disease. In ML Sipski, CJ Alexander (Eds.). Sexual Function in People with Disability and Chronic Illness: A Health Professional's Guide, Maryland: Aspen Publisher, 1978, pp. 247–258.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Knight SE: Sexual concerns of the physically disabled. In B Heller, L Flohr and L Zegans (Eds.). Psychosocial interventions with physically disabled persons: Mind and Medicine. New Jersey: Rutgers University Press 1983, pp. 183–199.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Daniels SM: Correlates of attitudes toward the sexuality of the disabled person in selected health professionals. Sexuality and Disability 1:112–126, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  18. MacDougall J & Morin S: Sexual attitudes and self-reported behavior of congenitally disabled adults. Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science, 11:189–204, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Rintala DH, Howland CA, Nosek MA, Bennett JL, Young ME, Foley CC, Rossi CD & Chanpong G: Dating issues for women with physical disabilities. Sexuality and Disability, 15:219–242, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Romeo AJ, Wanlass R & Arenas S: A profile of psychosexual functioning in males following spinal cord injury. Sexuality and Disability, 11:269–276, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Page RC, Cheng HP, Pate TC, Mathus B & et al.: The perceptions of spinal cord injured persons toward sex. Sexuality and Disability 8:112–132, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  22. McCabe M, Cummins R & Deeks A: Sexuality and quality of life among people with physical disability. Sexuality and Disability 18:123–131, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  23. White MJ, Rintala DH, Hart KA & Fuhrer MJ: Sexual activities, concerns and interests of women with spinal cord injury living in the community. American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 72:372–378, 1993.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Smith P, Hamilton B & Granger V: Adult sexual behaviors in 1989: number of partners, frequency, and risk. Paper Presented at the American Association of the Advancement of Science, New Orleans 1990.

  25. Suris JC, Resnick MD, Cassuto N & Blum RM: Sexual behavior of adolescents with chronic disease and disability. Journal of Adolescent Health, 19:124–131, 1996.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Donelson E: The relationship of sexual self-concept to the level of spinal cord injury and other factors. Dissertation Abstracts International Section B: The Sciences and Engineering. 58:6805, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Silvers B: Sexuality, early-onset physical disability, and sense of coherence. Dissertation Abstracts International Section B: The Sciences and Engineering 57:7743, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Taleporos G & McCabe MP: The impact of physical disability on body esteem. Social Science and Medicine in press.

  29. Mona L, Gardos P & Brown R: Sexual self views of women with disabilities: The relationship among age-of-onset, nature of disability and sexual self-esteem. Sexuality and Disability 12:261–277, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Tilley CM: Sexuality in women with physical disabilities: A social justice or health issue? Sexuality and Disability 14:139–151, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Welner SL: Gynecologic care and sexuality issues for women with disabilities...proceedings of the International Seminar on Women and Disability. Sexuality and Disability 15:33–40, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia

    George Taleporos & Marita P. McCabe

Authors
  1. George Taleporos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Marita P. McCabe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marita P. McCabe.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Taleporos, G., McCabe, M.P. Physical Disability and Sexual Esteem. Sexuality and Disability 19, 131–148 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010677823338

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010677823338

Search

Navigation