Relationships, sexuality and adjustment among people with physical disability

Abstract

The current study investigated the association between relationship status and the psychological adjustment, sexual esteem and sexual behaviour of people with and without physical disability. A total of 11 96 participants completed the study, 748 participants (367 men, 381 women) had a physical disability and 448 participants (1 71 men, 277 women) were able-bodied. The age range of participants was 18 to 69 years, with a mean age of 36.39 years (SD = 10.41). The results demonstrated that physical disability and its severity were related to an increased likelihood of being single. Men with physical disabilities were more likely than women to be single. In terms of psychological adjustment, single people with physical disabilities were more depressed than those who had a partner they did not live with. However, they were not signz3cantly disadvantaged in this area when compared to mam'ed people and those in de facto relationships. Relationship status was strongly related to sexual wellbeing in people with and without physical disability, with single people reporting lower levels of sexual satisfaction and sexual esteem as well as less frequent mutual sexual activity. However, married people with physical disabilities reported lower levels of sexual wellbeing than the people who had partners they did not live with. This suggests that among couples where a partner has a physical disability, marriage and live-in relationships may add burdens that do not exist in more casual relationships.

The First Sexual Experience Among Adolescent Girls With and Without Disabilities

“…Previous research on the stereotypes associated with disability, sexuality, and positive sexual expression can help inform these findings. A woman who feels sexually disenfranchised or who has lower sexual esteem as a result of her disability (McCabe and Taleporos 2003; Milligan and Neufeldt 2001; Taleporos and McCabe 2003) may be more likely to engage in sexual intercourse with a partner with whom she is less emotionally invested. Having sex with a recently met partner may allow girls with non-apparent disabilities to engage in sexual intercourse without disclosing the presence of a limitation.…”

“…Furthermore, Deloach (1994) and Phillips (1990) suggest that women with disabilities may internalize these stereotypes. Individuals with physical disabilities have been found to have lower levels of sexual esteem than individuals without disabilities (McCabe and Taleporos 2003)— and many consider their disability an obstacle to sexual expression (Taleporos and McCabe 2003) and romantic relationships (Skar 2003)—which may leave them less confident to pursue a more committed partnership than people without disabilities. Thus, emotional and attitudinal barriers may complicate the development of romantic types of relationships for girls with disabilities.…”

Altar-Bound? The Effect of Disability on the Hazard of Entry into a First Marriage

“…However, this study also found no significant difference by disability status in age at first marriage among those who married, nor did they find evidence that disability severity was associated with the likelihood of marriage. Taleporos and McCabe (2003) found lower rates of marriage among men and women with physical disabilities compared to their peers without disabilities and that among those with disabilities, individuals with more severe disabilities were less likely to be married than those with less severe disabilities. Likewise, a Census Bureau report (1997) based on data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation indicates that individuals with disabilities are more likely to be single than are their peers who do not experience disabling conditions.…”

“…While this work suggests that disability plays a role in a host of transitions to adulthood, it does not clearly address the issue of how disability generally, and types of disability in particular, affect the chance of entry into a first marriage nor does it follow individuals for long enough that we can disentangle marriage delayed and marriage forgone. Likewise, another, albeit limited, body of research has found that adults with disabilities are more likely to be single (Nosek et al 2001; Taleporos and McCabe 2003; U.S. Census Bureau 1997), yet such work also presents only a limited insight into the phenomenon.…”

The Impact of Leprosy on Marital Relationships and Sexual Health among Married Women in Eastern Nepal

“…They state that “women with disabilities reported significantly lower levels of sexual activity, sexual response, and satisfaction with their sex lives” [25]. A lack of privacy, dependence on others for care, and inaccessibility to homes and meeting places also make it more difficult for people with a disability to maintain sexual relationships [29]. …”