Sexuality and Disability (SEX DISABIL)

Publications in this journal

• Article: A Pilot Implementation of an Intervention to Promote Sexual Health in Adolescents and Young Adults in Rehabilitation

  Hiberink SR, Kruijver E, Wiegerink DJHG, Vliet Vlieland TPM
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  ABSTRACT: The majority of children treated in pediatric rehabilitation reach adulthood and develop into individuals with needs concerning sexuality and intimate relationships. However, because sexual health is rarely addressed during rehabilitation, some of these youngsters have unmet needs regarding the development of romantic and sexual relationships, and various other problems. This study evaluates the pilot implementation of a group program for youth and young adults with physical disabilities in four rehabilitation centers and two special schools in a 3-month pre-post study. Ten professionals were trained to apply the program. Both professionals and participants filled-out pre-post questionnaires. In addition, participants were interviewed after the program about their experiences. After the training, two rehabilitation centers and one special school succeeded to offer the program, including a total of 14 participants [79 % male, mean age 19.9 (SD = 4.6) years]. The mean attendance rate for the program was 83 % and the sessions were generally positively received. Ten participants filled out the post questionnaire and reported a decrease in having difficulty with discussing sexuality with their (eventual) partner (Cohen’s d = 0.66). There were no changes regarding sexual self-esteem and self-efficacy. Although contact with professionals and peers was considered valuable, the perceived effectiveness was moderate. Participants missed diagnosis-specific information about sexual functioning. Professionals considered the program to be feasible in their setting. Despite some important barriers, the group program is a step forward in offering specialized rehabilitation for youth and young adults with physical disabilities. To measure its impact for participants, a longer follow-up period and more participants are required.
  Sexuality and Disability 01/2013;
• Article: Prevalence and Risk Factors for Female Sexual Dysfunction Among Turkish Women Attending a Maternity and Gynecology Outpatient Clinic

  Nülüfer Erbil
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  ABSTRACT: Female sexual dysfunction is a common health problem for many women all over the world. This study was constructed to determine risk factors and prevalence of female sexual dysfunction among Turkish women, in Ordu province of Turkey between May 2008 and December 2008. Four hundred and twenty-five married women, between 18 and 56years of age, who consented to participate, were included in the study. Data was collected by using a questionnaire form and the Female Sexual Function Index. The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction was 52.2%. The risk factors for female sexual dysfunction were, low education level of the woman (odds ratio [OR]=1.830, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.088–3.078), low education level of the husband (OR=1.734, 95% CI=1.094–2.750), being brought up by parents with restrictive attitudes (OR=1.558, 95% CI=1.001–2.424), and having genital infections or symptoms (OR=1.925, 95% CI=1.213–3.055). KeywordsFemale sexual dysfunction–Prevalence–Risk factors–Turkish women–Female sexual function index
  Sexuality and Disability 05/2012; 29(4):377-386.
• Article: Andrew R. Block, Robert J. Gatchel, William W. Dearorff, and Richard D. Guyer: The Psychology of Spinal Surgery

  Sigmund Hough
  Sexuality and Disability 05/2012; 28(2):141-142.
• Article: Professional Educational Opportunities

  Sigmund Hough
  Sexuality and Disability 05/2012; 28(1):65-67.
• Article: Professional Educational Opportunities

  Sigmund Hough
  Sexuality and Disability 05/2012; 27(2):123-124.
• Article: Sexuality in Parkinsonism

  Viroj Wiwanitkit
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  ABSTRACT: Parkinson’s disease has traditionally been considered as a pure motor condition; characterized by tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and slow postural reflexes. Disability can be seen in the patients with Parkinson’s disease. In additional to general physical and psychological aberration, sexual dysfunction is common in Parkinson’s disease, occurring as a non-motor manifestation of the illness but often compounded by secondary problems relating to physical disability, psychological factors and medication effects. In this article, the author will focus on the sexuality of Parkinson’s disease
  Sexuality and Disability 05/2012; 26(2):105-108.
• Article: Nick Hagiliassis and Hrepsime Gulbenkoglu: Enhancing Self-Esteem: A Self-Esteem Training Package for Individuals with Disabilities

  Angela M. Kuemmel
  Sexuality and Disability 05/2012; 27(2):119-120.
• Article: Sexual Lives and Family Function of Women with Family Member with Disability: Educational Status and Income Level

  Handan Zincir, Filiz Özkan, Zeliha Kaya Erten, Emine Ümit Seviğ
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  ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to determine how sexual lives and family functions of women with low educational and income status who had family members with disability were influenced. The study included subjects with disability comprising 12.29% of Turkish population who have disabilities. Using the sampling formula in which the size of universe was known, the sample included the families with 183 children with disability and women. Study was conducted in the center of the province Kayseri with children with disability in families with low socio–economic status, attending a school and with the families living in a neighborhood with low socio–economic status. Low income level determined unhealthiness and 56.8% of the participants reported to have problems in sexual relation. Sexual lives and family functions of women with low educational status and income level were determined to be negatively more affected because of an additional problem; having a member with disability in the family. KeywordsDisabled–Family–Family functions–Sexual lives–Turkey
  Sexuality and Disability 05/2012; 29(3):197-206.
• Article: R. Shuttleworth and T. Sanders (eds): Sex & Disability: Politics, Identity and Access

  Maggi A. Budd
  Sexuality and Disability 05/2012; 29(2):187-189.
• Article: Psychologists’ Experience with Interviewing and Analyzing Abuse Allegations of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

  Lino Faccini, Marie Alezey Saide
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  ABSTRACT: Abuse among persons with an Intellectual Disability is a significant problem. In contrast to the gravity of this problem, there currently exists a gap in Practitioners’ ability to use a recognized and standardized approach to interview or analyze abuse cases when investigating them. This survey was an initial exploration of the practices of a sample of Downstate NY Psychologists regarding their training, supervision and processing of abuse allegations. A primary finding indicates that there isn’t a consistently used, standardized method of interviewing and analyzing accounts of physical, emotional and sexual abuse from persons with an intellectual disability. Also, the psychologists indicated that they followed their supervising psychologists’ guidance when interviewing and then analyzing interviews for credibility, which were not standardized across areas sampled. KeywordsInterviewing and analyzing abuse allegations–CBCA–Adults with intellectual disabilities
  Sexuality and Disability 05/2012; 29(3):291-296.
• Article: Professional Film-Video Review: (Sex)abled: Disability Uncensored (2010) by Amanda Hoffman, Dan Novakovich, David Knoppel and Leslie Kenerey

  Sigmund Hough
  Sexuality and Disability 05/2012; 29(2):181-183.
• Article: Knowledge and Practices About Sexual and Reproductive Health in University Students

  Emel Ege, Belgin Akin, Rüveyde Kültür Can, Ayten Ariöz
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  ABSTRACT: Concern about young people’s sexual and reproduction health has recently increased in Turkey. This study aimed to search university students’ knowledge and practices about sexual and reproduction health. The study utilized a cross-sectional design. 1,112 students (567 female and 545 male) from Selcuk University were the sampling for the study. The average age of the study group was 21.1±2.0. Students’ average sexual experiences were 17.7%. 8.1% of sexually active students were female and 91.95% of sexually active students were male students. Findings showed that there was need to have a youth center in the university that should inform students about healthy sexual intercourse in non-threatening confidential ways. KeywordsUniversity student–Sexuality–Reproductive health–Knowledge–Practices–Turkey
  Sexuality and Disability 05/2012; 29(3):229-238.
• Article: Opinions of Individuals Who have had Myocardial Infarction About Sex

  Meral Altıok, Mualla Yılmaz
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  ABSTRACT: This study was conducted as a descriptive and qualitative research to understand the opinions of individuals who have had myocardial infarction about sex, the impact of the disease on their sexual lives and their counseling needs. The study included 200 patients registered in a cardiology department of a university hospital while the study population consisted of 32 patients meeting the eligibility criteria of the study. The qualitative data of the study were collected by addressing a total of 12 questions in the Individual In-depth Interview to the study population. Semi-structured interviews were utilized to explore sexuality. In data analysis stage, digital voice records were transcribed first, then these transcripts were combined with observation notes and the raw data were processed for content analysis. As a result of the content analysis, 10 themes were formed: “Sex Is Everything”, “Sex Is Private and It Cannot be Talked About”, “Heart Disease Has a Negative Impact on Sexual Life”, “Age Matters in Sex”, “Sexual Activity Is Beneficial to the Heart”, “Fear of Having a Heart Attack during Sexual Activity”, “Spouses (Female) Lacking Sexual Appetite”, “Sex Is the Expression of Strength,” “Turkish Women Don’t Refuse to Have Sex with Their Husbands” and “Health Personnel Don’t Talk with Patients about Sex”. According to the findings from this study, the patients who had myocardial infarction stated that sex was a basic need and their sexual lives were affected negatively due to the fear of having a heart attack but they could not talk about their sexual problems with health professionals. It is recommended that patients be provided with settings where they can comfortably express their sexual problems, their sexual functions be assessed and considered in patient care planning and sessions about protection of sexual health be covered more during patient education. KeywordsMyocardial infarction–Sexual life–Nursing–Turkey
  Sexuality and Disability 04/2012; 29(3):263-273.
• Article: Conditionally Sexual: Men and Teenage Boys with Moderate to Profound Intellectual Disability

  Nathan J. Wilson, Trevor R. Parmenter, Roger J. Stancliffe, Russell P. Shuttleworth
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  ABSTRACT: This article presents qualitative research data about the sexuality of men and teenage boys with moderate to profound intellectual disability. Research findings pointed to a conditional construct of sexuality based within a biopsychosocial framework. The notion Conditionally Sexual represents the perceived limitations, within a rights-based discourse, of these men and teenage boys’ sexuality. The limitations to person-centred service delivery from a policy vacuum in the area of sexuality and intellectual disability represents a major challenge for paid staff. We suggest that a move toward better understanding how to support such a conditional sexual construct will assist the development of a healthy masculine sexuality for men and boys with intellectual disability. KeywordsIntellectual disability–Sexuality–Men–Boys–Research–Masculinity–Australia
  Sexuality and Disability 04/2012; 29(3):275-289.
• Article: Meaningful Sex Education Programs for Individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities

  Amy Swango-Wilson
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  ABSTRACT: Individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability (ID/DD) may not have had the experiences to develop social skills for long term relationships. While society has denied the sexuality of these individuals, the individuals have identified their desire for intimate relationships. The purpose of this study was a qualitative inquiry to identify what individuals with ID/DD expect from a sex education program. A small sample size of three participants identified three themes. Data emerged for the future focus of sex education programs to include: friendship, relationships, and safe sex behaviors. The study also revealed methods of education to be used for the program setting. While the generalizability of the study is limited, due to the small number of participants, data from this study can be used for future inquires aimed at the identification of meaningful sex education programs for individuals with ID/DD. KeywordsSex education–Intellectual/Development Disability–Program development
  Sexuality and Disability 04/2012; 29(2):113-118.
• Article: Sexuality and Disability in the Lives of Women with Intellectual Disabilities

  Donna J. Bernert
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  ABSTRACT: This ethnography explored how sexuality was experienced among 14 adult women with intellectual disabilities. Data were gathered through interviews and observations specifically to learn how the women talked about their sexuality, and how sexuality functioned in their lives. Results discussed in this article indicate that most of the women functioned within disability centered environments without having a disability identity; most women expressed an adult identity that resulted in their expectations of sexual autonomy; and most women experienced sexuality limitations because of protective policies and programs. Discussion includes implications for sexuality supports for women with intellectual disabilities. KeywordsWomen–Intellectual disability–Sexuality–Self-determinism–Ethnography
  Sexuality and Disability 04/2012; 29(2):129-141.
• Article: Unprotected Sexual Intercourse and Unplanned Pregnancy Experience of Turkish University Students

  Ayten Senturk Erenel, Zehra Golbasi
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  ABSTRACT: This study examined the unprotected sexual experience for Turkish university students. The study was carried out with 1,689 voluntary students from two state universities. The data was gathered with a questionnaire composed of 33 questions prepared by researchers. Chi- square test and Student t test were used in the statistical analysis of data. 15.9% of the students had sexual experience. The mean age at first sexual intercourse was 18.12±2.02. Only 36.4% of the students have asserted that they use contraceptive methods in every sexual intercourse. The most frequently used method (74.0%) is condom. 8.6% of the students had experienced unplanned pregnancy and 73.9% of these pregnancies had resulted with abortion. The results from this study highlight the importance of how Turkish university students are under the risk of unplanned pregnancy because of unprotected sexual behavior. KeywordsReproductive health–University students–Unprotected sexual intercourse–Unplanned pregnancy–Turkey
  Sexuality and Disability 04/2012; 29(1):75-80.
• Article: Simon LeVay and Janice Baldwin: Human Sexuality, Third Edition

  Sigmund Hough
  Sexuality and Disability 04/2012; 27(3):179-180.
• Article: The Comfort Levels of Nurses During Clinical Experiences Which Include Sexual Topics

  Ayse Cil Akinci
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  ABSTRACT: To determine the comfort levels of nurses and factors affecting their comfort levels during clinical experiences which include sexual topics. The sample of this descriptive study consisted of 141 nurses who work at the medical or surgical units. Nurses are uncomfortable with taking care of patients who engaged in sexuality related activities (78.1%), informing male patients on sexual life who experiences erectile dysfunction during intercourse (66.6%), examining the genital organs of male patients (63.1%), asking male patients about their sexual life (61%), and answering the questions of male patients about sexuality (57.5%). Nurses who find it appropriate to talk to patients about sexuality during routine nursing care (P=0.003) and who can answer patients’ questions about sexual problems (P=0.000) feel more comfortable during clinical experiences which include sexual topics. Nurses should be prepared in either pre or post-registration programs to incorporate sexuality as a dimension of patient care. KeywordsNurse–Clinic–Sexual topics–Comfort level–Turkey
  Sexuality and Disability 04/2012; 29(3):239-250.