Forging intimate relationships following spinal cord injury: An investigation of individual factors

This investigation employed both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore postinjury intimate/romantic relationship satisfaction in 58 single men (N = 50) and women (N = 8) living with spinal cord injury (SCI). The two major goals of this study were to: (1) explore selected individual factors [i.e., acceptance of disability (AD), interpersonal locus of control (ICS), social anxiety and avoidance (SADS), and perceived risk in intimacy (RII)] as potential predictors of perceived barriers to dating (PBD) and romantic relationship satisfaction (RRS); (2) explore and compare attributions for RRS (or dissatisfaction) and the interpersonal strategies of a subset of individuals (N = 14) selected for interview on the basis of relatively high or low RRS.;Two separate sequential (hierarchical) multiple regression analyses found, after controlling for demographic variables, selected individual factors accounted for 35% of the variance in PBD and 19% of the variance in RRS. Not all predictor variables were found to be significant contributors to explained variance. Current dating status, AD and ICS emerged as significant predictors of PBD, whereas social motivation (the subjective importance of and desire for a satisfying intimate relationship), current dating status and ICS were significant predictors of RRS. PBD and RRS were also found to be highly correlated (r = .69, p = .000) and post hoc analyses suggested PBD may function as a mediating factor in the prediction of RRS.;Over 67% of participants were not dating or involved in an intimate relationship. Qualitative findings indicated all interviewees (high and low RRS) shared the view that negotiating intimacy post-SCI is a venture fraught with challenges imposed by physical impairment and disability. Three major challenges were identified: sexual difficulties, accessibility and mobility issues and negative societal attitudes. High RRS interviewees articulated more active problem-solving and interpersonal strategies than low RRS interviewees, demonstrating an internal locus of control orientation. Self-acceptance and enhanced communication skills were identified as important assets for achieving RRS.;Results are discussed within the context of the study's limitations. Suggestions for potential clinical interventions as implicated by the current findings, and future research pursuits are proposed.