A CORRELATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING SEXUALITY IN WOMEN AGE 50 AND OLDER

Abstract

To investigate a biopsychosocial perspective of sexuality in women age 50 and older, 657 community-residing women completed anonymous surveys, including demographics; health; self-esteem; intimacy; and sexual knowledge, attitudes, interest, participation, and satisfaction. Cronbach's alphas for major variables ranged from .52 (sexual knowledge) to .92 (intimacy). Mean scores for major variables ranged from 2.96 (sexual participation) to 3.43 (self-esteem, sexual attitudes). Significant correlations were described among the predictor variables and sexual interest, participation, and satisfaction. Significant predictors of sexual interest, participation, and satisfaction were identified through stepwise multiple regression procedures. Findings suggest a biopsychosocial model for clinicians to use in assessment and intervention with older women and sexual issues, for educators to use to organize teaching about aging and female sexuality, and for researchers to use to investigate older women's sexuality in different samples of older women.