Ören, Mihriban Yaşar Üniversitesi - Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi - Psikoloji Bölümü, Turkey , Kızıltepe, Rukiye Ege Üniversitesi - Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi - Psikoloji Bölümü, Gelişim Psikolojisi Anabilim Dalı, Turkey , Özekes, Banu Çengelci Ege Üniversitesi - Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi - Psikoloji Bölümü, Gelişim Psikolojisi Anabilim Dalı, Turkey

Sexuality in elderly

14982

Due to the increase in the elderly population, the number of researches on aging has become to increase in recent years. However, research on sexuality and old age is still scarce. It is commonly believed, particularly by older people, that elderly don’t have sexual relationship or that sexuality should not last in later years. Nevertheless, 80% percent of the men and more than 65% of the women, aged 40-80y, reported having sexual intercourse in the past year whereas the proportion of whom declared that old people no longer have sexual desire is just 17% and 23% respectively. Increased age is not the only factor that causes sexual problems in old age. Some physiological, psychological and social changes which arise with the increasing age affect the partner relationships and sexuality of elderly as well as the other life domains. Rather than an inevitable decrease in sexual functions, sexual problems seems to emerge based on the difficulties in multiple life domains such physical or mental health and partner relationships. Considering the close association of a healthy sexuality with other domains of life, protection of sexual health and improvement of sexual life in the old age gain importance with regard to physical health, psychological well-being and life satisfaction of the elderly. In this article, the physiological, psychosocial and cultural factors affecting the sexualtiy of elderly men and women and the literature on continuation and protection of sexual life in the old age will be mentioned

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Aging , elderly , sexuality , sexual dysfunctions

Ege Journal Of Medicine

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