Sexuality and quality of life among people with physical disability

This study was designed to evaluate the association between the sexuality and quality of life of people with congenital physical disability. Sixty people with congenital physical disability (33 males, 27 females, mean age = 28.64 years) who were living in the community participated in the study. Each respondent completed the Sexual Knowledge, Experience and Needs Scale which assesses levels of knowledge, experience, feelings and needs in 12 different areas of sexuality Respondents also completed the Comprehensive Quality of life Scale which assesses both subjective and objective dimensions of quality of life in seven broad domains. Surprisingly, there were few associations between sexulity and the quality of life domains. The strongest associations were between sexual intimacy and importance of quality of life. The implication of these findings for the lives of people with physical disabilities are discussed.