Attitudes toward sexuality and psychological well-being in older people.

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Published: May 6, 2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17060/ijodaep.2018.n1.v4.1270
Keywords:
attitudes sexuality psychological well-being elderly people

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Vicente Morell-Mengual
Dpto. de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación, Universitat de Valènci
Roberta Ceccato
Dpto. de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación, Universitat de València
Juan Enrique Nebot-García
Dpto. de Psicología Básica, Clínica y Psicobiología, Universitat Jaume I
Isabel Chaves
Dpto. de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación, Universitat de València
María Dolores Gil- Llario
Dpto. de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación, Universitat de València

Abstract

The study of the factors that influence the active and healthy aging process is one of the main interests of psychogerontology. In this sense, psychological well-being is a reliable indicator that ensures the success of this process, while sexuality becomes a relevant modulating variable. The aim of this paper is to determine if attitudes towards sexuality and psychological well-being of ederly people are modulated by residence type, marital status and degree of autonomy. For this purpose, Ageing Attitude Scale on Sexuality and Psychological Well-Being Scale is used in a sample of 70 people, 35 women and 35 men, from 65 to 95 years old (M = 76.78; DT = 8.3). The results show that, in general, more liberal attitudes towards sexuality and greater psychological well-being are significantly associated with living outside residential institutions and maintaining a sentimental relationship with a stable partner. On the other hand, the degree of autonomy only obtains statistical significance in psychological well-being but not in attitudes towards sexuality. In conclusion, ederly people represent a stigmatised segment of the population (with many associated myths and negative beliefs), for this reason, this study contributes to create a positive conception of the aging process, normalizing behaviors and emphasizing the variables to be considered in the elaboration of intervention programs.

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How to Cite
Morell-Mengual, V., Ceccato, R., Nebot-García, J. E., Chaves, I., & Gil- Llario, M. D. (2018). Attitudes toward sexuality and psychological well-being in older people. International Journal of Developmental and Educational Psychology. Revista INFAD De Psicología., 4(1), 77–84. https://doi.org/10.17060/ijodaep.2018.n1.v4.1270
Issue
Vol. 4 No. 1 (2018): PSYCHOLOGY, AGE AND CURRENT CHANGES
Section
Articles
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