Sex and Intimacy Issues among Persons with Limb Loss:
[Thesis]
Amil, Michael Mohammad
A Phenomenological Approach
Vannucci, Marla
Adler University
2019
107
Psy.D.
Adler University
2019
An estimated two million individuals currently live with limb loss in the United States, with an average of 500 new amputations occurring per day. As a consequence of limb loss, individuals undergo a host of physiological, social, and psychological changes as they learn to adjust to life under these new circumstances. Research has extensively explored limb loss related to shifts in psychological well-being, a sense of self-worth, and social discomfort. A particularly important domain that has received less attention focuses on issues related romance, dating, and partnership of those with limb loss. Review of sexual functioning, sexual well-being, and disruptions in intimacy has been explored with mixed findings. Knowing how limb loss affects couples' abilities to connect intimately and emotionally can only serve to better inform helping professionals working with this rather significant population. This transcendental phenomenological study surveyed 10 individuals that illuminated five significant findings. These included the absence of significant changes in sexual functioning, the identification of relational traits aiding in intimacy, amputation-related factors, the practice of self-compassion, and the use of helping professionals. Implications of these findings, future research endeavors, and limitations of the study were discussed.