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Sexuality in the Aging Individual *
Author(s) -
PFEIFFER ERIC
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1974.tb05834.x
Subject(s) - medicine , human sexuality , gerontology , quality of life (healthcare) , sexual behavior , sexually active , sexual life , demography , clinical psychology , family medicine , gynecology , nursing , gender studies , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , sociology
Sexual activity may continue to play a significant role in the life of the elderly person. At age 68 about 70 per cent of men still regularly partake in sexual activity, and even at age 78 about 25 per cent are sexually active. For men, the married state is not a necessary factor, whereas for women it makes all the difference. Very few unmarried older women report regular sexual activity. Unavailability of a sanctioned sexual partner is the chief determinant. The ratio of available older women to available older men may approach 4:1 in many environments. Sexual expression requires privacy, an aspect of life that is often neglected for the aged. The physician should take these needs into consideration when counseling or when planning programs to improve the quality of life in the later years.