Sexual Experiences of Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury: The Somatic-Sexual Transition Framework

This qualitative study uses interpretive phenomenology to explain the sexual experiences of individuals with spinal cord injury in Catalonia (Spain). Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed simultaneously using Colaizzi’s method. Nine adults with spinal cord injury (seven men and two women) were selected through convenience and snowball sampling. Findings show that the sexual experiences of these individuals were understood using a model that emerged from this study -The Somatic-Sexual Transition- a framework comprising five stages: body disengagement, body frustration, body re-engagement, somatic resilience, and sexual autonomy. These identified stages allow healthcare professionals to better understand the sexuality of individuals with spinal cord injury while also highlighting the importance of up-to-date sex education during the rehabilitation process.