Journal List > J Korean Acad Nurs > v.38(3) > 1063743

Kim: Relationship among Sexual Knowledge, Frequency, Satisfaction, Marital Intimacy and Levels of Depression in Stroke Survivors and Their Spouses

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between sexual knowledge, frequency, satisfaction, marital intimacy, and depression levels in stroke survivors and their spouses.

Methods

This study was a convenience sample of Korean men who had experienced a stroke and their spouses. The subjects were discharged from the hospital and received physical therapy. Data such as sexual knowledge, frequency, satisfaction, marital intimacy, and depression levels were collected from November 2005 to April 2006.

Results

In a comparison of stroke survivors and their spouses, the survivors showed higher mean levels of sexual knowledge and marital intimacy. The levels of knowledge, frequency, satisfaction and marital intimacy were low and depression was mild in the subjects. There were significant correlations between sexual frequency, sexual satisfaction and marital intimacy. Also, subjects with lower levels of sexual satisfaction were more depressed. The spouses who possessed greater levels of sexual knowledge reported a higher frequency of sex and greater marital intimacy. In addition, spouses who reported feeling greater levels of marital intimacy experienced fewer depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate a need for the development of sexual adaptation programs which could be effective in improving sexual knowledge, frequency, satisfaction, marital intimacy, and depression reported by stroke patients and their spouses. Ideally, these corrective programs should be administered before patients are discharged from the hospital.

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Table 1.
General Characteristics of Subjects (N=62)
Stroke survivors
Spouses
n (%) or M±SD n (%) or M±SD
Age (yr) 40-49 3 (9.7) 9 (29.0)
50-59 22 (71.0) 20 (64.5)
60-65 6 (19.3) 2 (6.5)
55.48±4.54 52.3±5.46
Education level Middle school 10 (32.3) 20 (64.5)
High school 13 (41.9) 10 (32.3)
≥College 8 (25.8) 1 (3.2)
Family income (10,000 won) <100 15 (48.4)
100-199 8 (25.8)
≥200 8 (25.8)
Economic status Low 16 (51.6) 22 (71.0)
Moderate 14 (45.2) 6 (19.3)
Sufficient 1 (3.2) 3 (9.7)
Occupation No 27 (87.1) 18 (58.1)
Yes 4 (12.9) 13 (41.9)
Table 2.
Health related Characteristics (N=62)
Subject Characteristics Category n (%) M±SD Min-max Possible range
Stroke survivals Physical deficit Muscle weakness Right 15 (48.4)
Left 16 (51.6)
Dysarthria Yes 5 (16.1)
No 26 (83.9)
Disease Hypertension Yes 18 (58.1)
No 13 (41.9)
Diabetic mellitus Yes 6 (19.4)
No 25 (80.6)
Years since diagnosis <1 5 (16.1) 67.84±48.61 10-228
1-3 11 (35.5)
Mean blood pressure ≥3 15 (48.4) 110.20±9.98 96.50-136.00
Activities of daily living 20.00±0.00 0-20
Cognitive function 27.94±1.65 25-30 0-30
Spouses Disease Hypertension Yes 6 (19.4)
No 25 (80.6)
Diabetic mellitus Yes 3 (9.7)
No 28 (90.3)
Urinary incontinence Yes 2 (6.5)
No 29 (93.5)
No disease Yes 15 (48.4)
No 16 (51.6)
Menopause Yes 18 (58.1)
No 13 (41.9)
Years since menopause <3 5 (16.1) 63.22±52.02 12-210
3-5 9 (29.0)
≥5 4 (12.9)
Table 3.
Differences of Variables between Stroke Survivals and their Spouses (N=62)
Variables Stroke survivors
Spouses
Possible range t (p)
M±SD Min- max M±SD Min- max
Sexual knowledge 9.29±3.13 5-15 5.45±3.88 0-12 0-19 -5.163 (.000)
Sexual frequency 8.41±4.32 4-20 8.00±4.74 4-19 4-20 -0.259 (.798)
Sexual satisfaction 3.10±2.49 0-8 2.00±1.70 0-6 0-8 1.680 (.106)
Marital intimacy Cognitive 18.83±3.72 9-24 16.44±3.92 9-21 5-25 -2.274 (.032)
Emotional 18.32±3.53 12-24 15.56±4.23 9-23 5-25 -2.828 (.009)
Sexual 15.00±4.91 8-25 11.72±5.48 5-21 5-25 -3.897 (.001)
Total 52.16±10.21 33-71 49.0±9.50 30-67 15-75 -2.274 (.032)
Depression 18.96±8.39 6-37 17.96±4.19 9-28 0-60 -0.689 (.497)
Table 4.
Correlations among Variables in Stroke Survivors (N=31)
Variables Sexual frequency Sexual satisfaction Marital intimacy Depression
r (p) r (p) r (p) r (p)
Sexual knowledge .219 (.236) -.059 (.752) .201 (.297) -.233 (.208)
Sexual frequency .598 (.000) .584 (.001) -.339 (.062)
Sexual satisfaction .612 (.000) -.500 (.004)
Marital intimacy -.311 (.088)
Table 5.
Correlations among Variables in Spouses (N=31)
Variables Sexual frequency Sexual satisfaction Marital intimacy Depression
r (p) r (p) r (p) r (p)
Sexual knowledge .355 (.007) .084 (.537) .331 (.013) -.219 (.105)
Sexual frequency .524 (.000) .647 (.000) -.424 (.001)
Sexua satisfaction .556 (.000) -.501 (.000)
Marital intimacy -.408 (.002)
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