Background
Little is known about sexual activity in patients with heart failure (HF), and existing
evidence suggests that sexual activity is adversely affected.
Objective
This study explored the relationships and predictors between sexual activity and psychosexual,
demographic variables in healthy elders and patients with HF.
Methods
Participants were 59 healthy elders and 85 patients with HF who completed instruments
on depression and anxiety, sexual self-concept, sexual activity, and demographic/clinical
variables.
Results
Those with increased sexual self-concept had 1.78 greater odds of being sexually active.
The sexual self-concept subscales of sexual anxiety and sexual self-efficacy showed
a statistically significant (P < .01) independent effect on sexual activity. A higher sexual self-concept from greater
sexual self-efficacy and lower sexual anxiety, younger age, and being married were
significant predictors of sexual activity.
Conclusion
Sexual self-concept and the related subscales of sexual anxiety and sexual self-efficacy
are important psychosexual variables for future research. Attention to patient psychosexual
concerns is needed in both clinical practice and research.
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Article info
Footnotes
Funding for this study was received from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses-Phillips Medical Research Award (D. Moser) and the University of Kentucky General Clinical Research Center (MO1RR02602).
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Mosby, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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- ErrataHeart & Lung: The Journal of Cardiopulmonary and Acute CareVol. 37Issue 6
- PreviewHeart & Lung Volume 37 Number 5, September/October 2008, “Sexual self-concept, anxiety, and self-efficacy predict sexual activity in heart failure and healthy elders.” The erratum correction is on page 331, column 1, paragraph 3 (beginning, “Although a higher sexual self-efficacy …”), line 11. It should read “… somewhat better than the 50.6% of patients who reported no sexual activity …”, rather than 64.4%. Table II does display the correct numbers.
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