The attitudes and perceptions of the elderly towards sexuality in later life

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the attitudes and perceptions of the elderly towards sexuality in later life, with the objective of answering the research questions, “How do older adults perceive sex in later life?‟‟ and “What issues do older adults perceive, in relation to sexuality, as having an impact in later life?‟‟, through qualitative methodology. An understanding of older adults‟ beliefs and experiences in relation to sexuality, from their perspective, will highlight an area which is often overlooked and which could provide valuable insight into that life stage. The data was collected via in-depth, semi-structured interviews, conducted with six participants who were over the age of sixty-five. The data was analysed using Thematic Analysis. Three main themes were identified: „Gendered Perceptions of Sexual Desire‟, „Sexual (in)Activity‟, and „Social Class and The Sex Culture‟. The results show how female sexual desire and sexual activeness decreases with age while for males it increases or remains active. Health-related issues, like mental and medical conditions, have a negative effect on sexual activeness; however, non-health related issues, like marital problems, were highlighted by the participants as also having an impact on the couple‟s sexual activeness. The findings also suggest that the culture's attitudes toward sex in later life seem to be changing with the younger generation.