Sexual Identity, Body Image and Life Satisfaction Among Women With and Without Physical Disability

Abstract

The current study examined the association between sexual identity, body image and life satisfaction among women with and without physical disability. Seventy women with physical disability (spinal cord injuries and injuries resulting from polio) and 64 women without disability completed the following questionnaires: Sexuality Scale, Body Image Scale and Quality of Life Questionnaire. The results demonstrated that women with physical disability had the same sexual needs and desires as women without disability, but their body image, sexual self-esteem, sexual satisfaction and life satisfaction were significantly lower. These differences were stronger among young adult women than among more mature women. It was also found that sexual satisfaction was a major factor in explaining the variance in life satisfaction in both groups, and the relationships between sexual satisfaction and life satisfaction were bidirectional. At the same time, different patterns of congruency and inconsistency between sexual satisfaction and life satisfaction were exposed in both groups. In addition, the research demonstrated a moderating effect of family status on links between sexual and life satisfaction.

Attachment, Self-Esteem and Subjective Well-Being Among Survivors of Childhood Sexual Trauma

“…These findings build on previous research that demonstrated a link between general self-esteem and subjective well-being (Moin et al, 2009). Moin and colleagues compared women with physical disabilities and women without physical disabilities in relation to sexual identity, body image and life satisfaction.…”

“…Moin and colleagues compared women with physical disabilities and women without physical disabilities in relation to sexual identity, body image and life satisfaction. The researchers found that the way individuals feel about our sexual selves influences the manner in which we perceive our lives (Moin et al, 2009). In an additional study, Moksnes and Espnes (2013) assessed secondary school students in Europe found that general self-esteem contributed to subjective well being across participants with different gender, age, stress, subjective health and chronic mental health conditions.…”

“…Although there has been minimal empirical research assessing the relationship between sexual self-esteem and subjective well-being there is ATTACHMENT, SELF-ESTEEM AND SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING 29 empirical support describing the relationship between overall self-esteem and subjective wellbeing. As components of self-esteem comprise our overall levels of sexual self-esteem it can be postulated that sexual self-esteem influences subjective well-being (Moin et al, 2009). …”

“…In addition, sexual self-esteem is related to an individuals' level of commitment and attachment to their romantic partners (Zeanah & Schwartz, 1996). Further, research has shown that sexual self-esteem is related to satisfaction ATTACHMENT, SELF-ESTEEM AND SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING 48 with life (Moin, Duvdevany & Mazor, 2009). In the current study, the constructs of attachment, childhood sexual trauma, sexual self-esteem, and subjective well-being will be assessed as a means of furthering the current literature.…”

Psychosocial issues in spinal cord injury: a review

“…Several studies have compared life satisfaction of people with long-standing SCI with that of the general population (Figure 1). 14,[27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44] The differences between mean scores in people with SCI and in the population are expressed as effect sizes. 45 The mean effect size of all studies in Figure 1 is À0.77 (s.d.…”