Introduction
During Russia`s war against Ukraine, Ukraine mobilized approximately 880,000 people to the Armed Forces of Ukraine; of them, 390,000 people got injured and needed reintegration into civilian life. This theme is not broadly learned. Thus, there is obviously a lack of studies with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) that will reveal the underlying aspects of the injured person's sexual experience.
Purpose
The research focuses on the key aspects of the sexual reintegration experience of Ukrainian combat-wounded veterans.
Method
This research examines the experience of sexual intimacy reintegration of six Ukrainian heterosexual male veterans (aged 25-45), injured during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The data was collected via semi-structured interviews and analyzed using IPA.
Results
Sexual reintegration experience of combat-wounded veterans reveals three super categories.
1) The impairment of body transparency: feeling that the body after the injury becomes visible to others; returning body transparency via sexual arousal.
2) Horizon of possibility restriction caused by body injury: a narrowed sense of sexuality; the gradual normalization of the altered body within everyday experience.
3) Appearance of physical inconveniences: reduction of sex practices diversity; lifestyle changes.
Conclusions
In summary, the research demonstrates the central role of intersubjective relationships in sexual reintegration. For example, through the partner's gaze, the injured body regains its transparency. This intersubjective recognition expands the horizon of possibilities, both in sexual experience and lived experience more broadly. Furthermore, the research revealed that sexual impairment is not
experienced as a loss of masculinity but reveals the existential problematic of everydayness. The research is focused only on men`s experience. Future studies should include interviewing both male and female veterans, their partners, and describing the experiences of LGBTQI+ people.