Relationship between employment status and sexual functioning after traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if correlations exist between employment status and sexual functioning in persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
Descriptive cross-sectional.


METHODS
Community.


METHODS
One hundred and forty-six English-speaking, community dwelling adults, without other neurological or psychiatric disorder that could impact outcome and (1) enrolled in TBI Model Systems sexuality study database or (2) admitted to Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago with primary diagnosis of TBI between 2004-2006.


METHODS
Employment status, annual income, Derogatis Interview for Sexual Functioning Self Report (DISF-SR) sum and sub-scale scores, Global Sexual Satisfaction Index (GSSI).


RESULTS
No significant difference was found in GSSI scores between employed, unemployed or students/volunteers (p = 0.20); however, lower income marginally correlated with lower GSSI scores (p = 0.09). Marginally significant lower DISF-SR Sexual Cognition sub-group (p = 0.09) scores were found in unemployed vs. employed. Lower annual income also correlated with lower DISF-SR sum scores (p = 0.06), Sexual cognition/fantasy (p = 0.07), Orgasm/ejaculation (p = 0.003) and Sexual drive and relationship (p = 0.01) scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower quality sexual functioning and satisfaction was present in persons with TBI and concomitant unemployment or lower annual income. Efforts are needed to increase awareness amongst the TBI population and rehabilitation professionals of the potential impact unemployment or financial stress has on sexual functioning and satisfaction.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic , Rochester, MN , USA and.
Erica
E
Bellamkonda
Felise
F
Zollman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007989:Libido; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D020127:Recovery of Function; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*
Employment; head injury; sexuality; traumatic brain injury; work