The Effectiveness of Logotherapy on Marital Sexual Function and Hope in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries

Abstract

Background: Spinal cord injuries, arising from traumatic events, pathological conditions, or iatrogenic surgical complications, exert profound and multifaceted impacts on patients' lives. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of logotherapy on marital sexual function and hope in individuals with spinal cord injuries. Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test control group design. The target population consisted of individuals with spinal cord injuries residing in Ahvaz, Iran, during 2023. A convenience sample of 30 participants, with 15 assigned to each group, was selected based on predetermined inclusion criteria and subsequently randomized to either the experimental or control condition. The experimental group received eight 90-minute sessions of logotherapy. Both groups completed the Marital Sexual Function Scale and the Miller Hope Scale at baseline and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: The findings demonstrated that logotherapy resulted in statistically significant enhancements in both marital sexual function and hope among individuals with spinal cord injuries, as evidenced by pre- to post-test assessments (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Logotherapy was found to significantly improve marital sexual function and hope in individuals with spinal cord injuries. This suggests that logotherapy is an effective intervention for addressing both physical and psychological challenges associated with spinal cord injury. Future research should investigate the long-term effects and mechanisms of logotherapy in this population.