The Relationshp Between Physical Activity and Sexual Satisfaction Among Wheelchair Users

Abstract

Abstract Sexuality is an important part of life. Many people with disabilities report lower levels of sexual satisfaction (SS) than people without disabilities. SS has been correlated with many psychosocial, psychological, and physiological variables. Because physical activity (PA) improves many of the variables correlated with SS, promoting PA may be one strategy for promoting SS. Several studies have demonstrated a relationship between PA and SS in the general population; however this relationship has not been explored among people with physical disabilities. This study explored the relationship between satisfaction with sex life and PA in a sample of participants with physical disabilities who used wheelchairs as their primary mode of mobility. In addition, psychosocial, psychological, and physiological correlates of both PA and SS were explored. Further, variables that were related to both PA and SS were examined to assess whether they mediated the relationship between PA and SS. Results indicated that PA and SS were related. Several psychosocial and psychological variables were related to PA and to SS. Two variables--satisfaction with personal appearance and satisfaction with emotional support from people other than family --mediated the relationship between PA and SS. There is a need for future research to explore these relationships using qualitative methods, and objective measures of PA.