Adaptations to adult attachment and intimacy following spinal cord injury: a systematic review

Mair, Luned and Moses, Jenny ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1929-928X 2024. Adaptations to adult attachment and intimacy following spinal cord injury: a systematic review. Disability and Rehabilitation 46 (10) , pp. 1962-1978. 10.1080/09638288.2023.2218650

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Abstract

Purpose Experiencing spinal cord injury (SCI) can be life-changing for individuals and their families. Previous reviews have focused on coping and psychological adjustment, sexual function and sexuality, or factors facilitating or impeding interpersonal relationships after SCI. However, there is a very little synthesis of research focusing on changes to adult attachment and emotional intimacy post-SCI. This review aims to examine the mechanisms of change in adult attachment and intimacy in romantic relationships following SCI. Materials and methods Four online databases (Psycinfo, Medline, CINAHL, and Scopus) were searched for qualitative papers concerning romantic relationships, attachments, and intimacy post-SCI. Sixteen of the 692 papers met the inclusion criteria. These were quality assessed and analysed using meta-ethnography. Results Three main themes emerged from the analysis: (a) strengthening and maintaining adult attachment; (b) changes in roles; and (c) changing views of intimacy. Conclusion Many couples face significant changes to adult attachment and intimacy following SCI. Systematic ethnographic analysis of their negotiations enabled the identification of underlying relational processes and adaptation strategies associated with changes to inter-dependence, communication, role revision, and re-definition of intimacy. The findings indicate that healthcare providers should assess and respond to challenges faced by couples post-SCI using evidence consistent with adult attachment theory.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Psychology
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis Group
ISSN:	0963-8288
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	26 June 2023
Date of Acceptance:	21 May 2023
Last Modified:	09 Nov 2024 21:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/160583

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