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Women with Complete Spinal Cord Injury: A Phenomenological Study of Sexuality and Relationship Experiences

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Abstract

The phenomenological study described in this paper examines the sexuality and relationship “lived experiences” of 15 adult women who sustained complete spinal cord injury between the levels of T6 and L2 verified by a physiatrist. Audiotaped, semi-structured interviews were conducted by an interdisciplinary team of investigators. A set of themes and sequentially consistent patterns emerged from post-injury data that were labelled: Cognitive-genital dissociation, sexual disenfranchisement, sexual exploration, and sexuality reintegration. Sexuality and relationship issues in women with complete SCI are discussed, and indications for future studies and educational implications are presented.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College at New Paltz, Department of Nursing, The State University of New York, USA

    Eleanor Richards (Associate Professor)

  2. University of Pennsylvania, USA

    Mitchell Tepper (Doctoral Candidate)

  3. College of Nursing, The State University of New Jersey, USA

    Beverly Whipple (Associate Professor, Rutgers)

  4. The State University of New Jersey, USA

    Barry R. Komisaruk (Professor II, Psychology, Rutgers)

Authors
  1. Eleanor Richards
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  2. Mitchell Tepper
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  3. Beverly Whipple
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  4. Barry R. Komisaruk
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Richards, E., Tepper, M., Whipple, B. et al. Women with Complete Spinal Cord Injury: A Phenomenological Study of Sexuality and Relationship Experiences. Sexuality and Disability 15, 271–283 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024773431670

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