Sexual Desire and Depression Following Spinal Cord Injury: Masculine Sexual Prowess as a Moderator

Abstract

Men's adherence to masculine norms stressing sexual prowess may contribute to their adjustment to changes in sexual functioning following spinal cord injury. The authors test this hypothesis by examining the moderating role of men's conformity to gender norms for sexual prowess on the relationship between sexual desire and depression. One hundred and sixteen male citizens of the United States with spinal cord injuries were recruited for participation in the internet-based survey. Results indicated that participants with strong sexual desire evinced higher rates of depression when they conformed to masculine norms emphasizing sexual prowess. Men with little reported sexual desire, by contrast, demonstrated lower rates of depression when they endorsed norms for prowess. Directions for future research and treatment interventions are offered.

Trajectories of total depression and depressive symptoms in prostate cancer patients receiving six months of hormone therapy

“…For example, it has previously been reported that 85% of PCa patients with erectile dysfunction were successfully treated with sildenafil citrate , although the restriction of patients to those who received radiation therapy limits the generalisability of those findings. Over 80% of male paraplegics continue to experience strong sexual desire despite having no ability to obtain an erection without biomechanical intervention. Psychotherapy might be of assistance in helping these men to accept that (temporary) decrease in erectile performance do not necessarily lead to depression and that other sources of receiving and giving sexual pleasure might be reasonably substituted for penile erection while the effects of HT are present.…”

“…Erectile dysfunction may occur in a proportion of PCa patients but negative responses to SDS item 6 do not necessarily solely reflect that and could instead be due to loss of interest in sex. Over 80% of male paraplegics continue to experience strong sexual desire , indicating that erectile dysfunction does not necessarily lead to sexual anhedonia. Because SDS item 6 does not distinguish between failing to enjoy sex because of a lack of interest/pleasure or because of inability to perform sexual activity, two extra questions were asked: (a) ‘I have experienced a decreased ability to perform during sex’ and (b) ‘I have experienced a decreased interest in sex’, using the same scoring criteria as for the SDS.…”

Do prostate cancer patients suffer more from depressed mood or anhedonia?

“…As indicated earlier, erectile dysfunction may occur in a proportion of PCa patients, but negative responses to SDS item 6 do not necessarily solely reflect PCa‐related erectile dysfunction; instead, they could be due to loss of interest in sex, and hence a valid indicator of MDE. Alternatively, erectile dysfunction does not necessarily lead to sexual anhedonia, as shown by findings that over 80% of male paraplegics continue to experience strong sexual desire , and so, there is no necessary connection between erectile dysfunction caused by PCa treatments and sexual anhedonia as assessed by SDS item 6. That is, although a certain percentage of PCa patients report impotency, there is no conclusive data that connect all erectile dysfunction with loss of pleasure in all sexual activities.…”

Examining the psychological and emotional experience of sexuality for men after spinal cord injury

“…Its clearly defined expectations may have a detrimental effect on men after SCI (Esmail, Darry, Waiter, & Knupp, 2010). Boys are taught the possession, size and use of their genitals, as well as initiating sexual activity and possessing a high sexual drive are indicators of manhood (Burns, High, Boyd, & Hill, 2009). Masculinity has been described in the literature, and by the men in this study, using words such as physical, athletic, assertive, breadwinner, dominant and sexual prowess, all of which may be affected by erectile dysfunctions and other physical limitations resulting from SCI.…”