Predictors of sexual adjustment in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy

The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between sexual adjustment, mastery, age, subjective health, and changes in sexual satisfaction in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. A cross-sectional descriptive correlation study was conducted with a convenience sample comprising cancer patients who were visiting two cancer centers in Korea. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires, including the Global Sexual Satisfaction Index and sexual adjustment subscale of the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale. The Mastery Scale was used to assess self-control. The hypothesized model was tested using a path analysis with AMOS 17.0. The path model was used to investigate causal relationships between variables, to obtain maximum-likelihood estimates of model parameters, and to provide goodness-of-fit indices. The proposed path model showed a good fit to the data. Subjective health and age may have an effect, mediated by mastery, on sexual adaption. Participants who reported more decreased sexual satisfaction showed lower levels of sexual adjustment. Mastery was not a mediating factor between changes in sexual satisfaction and sexual adjustment. Our model provides a framework for improving sexual adaption in cancer patients with chemotherapy. Health professionals should recognize and assess prior sexual satisfaction and sexual problems when providing sexual health care during treatment.