Article

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to examine specific aspects of sexual
functioning (frequency, desired frequency, importance, and satisfaction) and
their relationship to fatigue in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI)
compared with those without brain injury. The relationship of demographic
variables, emotional well-being, and health-related quality of life to sexual
functioning was also explored. PARTICIPANTS: 200 community-dwelling adults with
self-reported mild-to-severe TBI and 83 individuals without brain injury.
MEASURES: Participation Objective, Participation Subjective, Fatigue Assessment
Instrument, Global Fatigue Index, Beck Depression Inventory, and SF-36 Health
Survey. METHODS: Data were collected through administration of self-report
measures and interviews as part of a larger study of post-TBI fatigue. RESULTS:
Several aspects of sexual activity (frequency, desired frequency, and importance)
were closely related to specific features of fatigue among individuals with TBI.
Women with TBI reported lower frequency and lower importance of sex than men. In
individuals without brain injury, the impact of fatigue was limited to the
frequency of sexual activity with no sex differences observed. CONCLUSIONS:
Fatigue plays a different role in the subjective experience of sexual activity
for men and women with TBI than for those without brain injuries. Fatigue and sex
should be taken into account in future research and interventions focused on
sexual function after TBI.

Langue : ANGLAIS