Objective: Changes to sexuality are a primary concern amongst cancer survivors, leading to psychological distress and impacting long-term quality of life. Effective sexual communication has been found to be critical in improving sexual satisfaction post-treatment. However, research suggests that many men struggle to disclose sexual concerns and preferences. This study aimed to qualitatively explore the common barriers and facilitators to sexual communication in male cancer survivors (MCSs).
Methods: Seventeen MCSs participated in semi-structured telephone interviews, which were transcribed and coded using Grounded Theory methodology.
Results: The emergent theory described that those MCSs with lower quality sexual communication experienced diminished perceived masculinity following cancer-related sexual dysfunction. These feelings of inadequacy were compounded by inadequate partner support. Contrastingly, participants reporting effective sexual communication expressed the importance of a stable self-esteem and flexible partner support.
Conclusions: This study challenges the notion that men naturally struggle with intimate dyadic communication and suggests that adequate partner support and a stable sense of self can mitigate MCSs' communicative behaviour, subsequently bolstering self-esteem. Future research should more broadly explore the diverse experiences of MCSs to enhance the efficacy of psychosexual interventions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.