Determinants of the quality of intimate relationships in persons with spinal cord injury

Ozljeda kralježnične moždine (OKM) uzrokuje fizičke, psihičke i socijalne posljedice te zahtjeva visoku prilagodbu pojedinca u svim aspektima života, a samim time i partnerskim odnosima. Cilj ovog istraživanja je ispitati odrednice kvalitete intimne veze te razlike kod osoba s OKM u odnosu na to jesu li stupili u vezu prije ili nakon ozljede. Istraživanje je provedeno putem online upitnika na ukupno 129 sudionika u dobi od 21-74 godine (M=43.8, SD=11.5). U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 54 sudionika koji su uspostavili intimnu vezu sa sadašnjim partnerom prije ozljede te 75 sudionika koji su uspostavili vezu nakon OKM. Rezultati pokazuju kako sudionici koji su stupili u vezu nakon ozljede imaju statistički značajno višu razinu kvalitete života, bolje prihvaćaju OKM, iskazuju niži stupanj percipiranog stresa te su zadovoljniji seksualnim aspektom veze u usporedbi sa sudionicima koji su u vezu ušli prije ozljede kralježnične moždine. Nije pronađena statistički značajna razlika između ove dvije skupine u kvaliteti intimne veze te anksioznosti i izbjegavanju kao dimenzijama privrženosti. Rezultati hijerarhijske regresijske analize, uz kontrolu trenutka ulaska u vezu (prije/nakon OKM) u prvom koraku, pokazali su da kvaliteta života, neprihvaćanje OKM, percipirani stres te nezadovoljstvo seksualnim aspektom veze statistički značajno doprinose objašnjenju 46% varijance kvalitete veze, dok se trenutak ulaska u vezu i dimenzije privrženosti nisu pokazali kao statistički značajni prediktori kvalitete intimne veze. Dobiveni rezultati ukazuju na potrebu holističkog pristupa osobama s OKM te eventualnu dobrobit psihoedukacije ili slične psihološke intervencije.A spinal cord injury (SCI) causes physical, psychological and social consequences and requires high adjustment of the individual in all aspects of life, and therefore in romantic relationships. The aim of this study was to examine the determinants of the quality of the intimate relationships and the differences among people with a SCI, in relation to whether they have entered a relationship, before or after the SCI. The research was conducted through an online questionnaire on a total of 129 participants aged 21-74 years (M= 43.8, SD= 11.5). The study involved 54 participants in a preinjury relationship and 75 participants in a postinjury relationship. The results show that the participants in a postinjury relationship have a statistically significant higher level of quality of life, they better accept a SCI, show a lower degree of perceived stress and greater satisfaction with the sexual aspect of the relationship compared to the participants in a preinjury relationship. No statistically significant difference was found between these two groups in the quality of the intimate relationship and anxiety and avoidance as dimensions of attachment. The results of the hierarchical regression analysis, with the control of the moment of entering the relationship (preinjury/postinjury) in the first step, showed that quality of life, non-acceptance of the SCI, perceived stress and dissatisfaction with the sexual aspect of the relationship statistically significantly contribute to explaining 46% of the variance of the quality of the intimate relationship, while the moment of entering the relationship and attachment dimensions did not prove to be significant predictors of intimate relationship quality. The obtained results indicate the need for a holistic approach to the people with SCI and potential benefit of a psychoeducation or a similar psychological intervention