The Level of Self-Esteem and Sexual Functioning in Women with Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Preliminary Study.
A person's image, which is determined through physical appearance, considerably affects self-esteem developed from early childhood. Scoliosis causes multiple trunk deformations that can affect a person's perception of the body. The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of scoliosis dimension and the degree of trunk deformation on the level of self-esteem and sexual functioning in women with idiopathic scoliosis. Thirty-six women diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis were recruited to a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. The subjects were divided into two groups depending on the value of the Cobb angle. The level of self-esteem was determined by means of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES), whereas the sexual functioning was assessed via the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The trunk deformations were specified with the Posterior Trunk Symmetry Index (POTSI). A statistically significant correlation was proved between the amount of points received in the Rosenberg scale evaluation and the POTSI index in Group A (R = -0.56, p = 0.04). Subjects with smaller deformations within the coronal plane had a higher level of self-confidence. The trunk asymmetries in the coronal plane may have a negative effect on women with scoliosis and their self-appraisal.
Chair and Department of Rehabilitation, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Medyków 12, 40-752 Katowice, Poland. reh@gcm.pl.
Jacek
J
Durmała
Chair and Department of Rehabilitation, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Medyków 12, 40-752 Katowice, Poland. iblicharska@sum.edu.pl.
Irmina
I
Blicharska
Chair of Woman's Health, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Medyków 12, 40-752 Katowice, Poland. cor111@poczta.onet.pl.
Agnieszka
A
Drosdzol-Cop
Chair of Woman's Health, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Medyków 12, 40-752 Katowice, Poland. skrzypulec-plinta@o2.pl.
Violetta
V
Skrzypulec-Plinta
D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult
female sexual function index; posterior trunk symmetry index; psychological test; sexual dysfunction