KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES ABOUT THE SEXUALITY OF OLDER ADULTS AMONG RETIREMENT HOME RESIDENTS

Abstract

In this study I used a questionnaire to determine the knowledge and attitudes about the sexuality of older adults held by well elderly people living in an Iowa retirement home (n – 133); I compared their knowledge and attitude scores with test norms and with a comparison group of Iowa university students (n – 133). I also explored what demographic factors affected knowledge and attitude scores. General attitudes of both retirees and students toward the sexuality of the elderly were very positive, but their attitudes toward specific sexual behaviors were less positive. Retirement home residents had less knowledge and less positive attitudes about the sexuality of older adults than did university students. There was a correlation between greater knowledge and more positive attitudes. I conclude that older adults need more in‐depth education about their sexuality and sexual functioning.