Predictors of negative attitudes towards both, aging and sexuality in old age

Diane Pereira, Filomena Ponte, Eleonora Costa

Abstract


This study analyzed the differences between young and old people in terms of attitudes and knowledge in relation to aging and towards sexuality in old age, the relationship between the study variables, the predictors of negative attitudes towards aging and negative attitudes towards sexuality in old age. One hundred and fifty-three university students and 42 elderly participated in the study. The results indicated that young people have a lower level of knowledge about sexuality in old age than older people, and older people have more negative attitudes towards aging and less permissive attitudes about sexuality in old age than young people. We also found that the higher the negative attitude towards aging, the greater the negative attitudes towards sexuality in old age. Predictors of ageism (negative attitude towards aging) were older age and less daily contact with seniors. Predictors of negative attitudes towards sexuality in old age were the highest age and the negative attitudes towards aging. It is important to intervene with the population at the level of knowledge and negative attitudes towards aging to change the negative attitudes towards sexuality in old age.

Keywords


Aging, Sexual attitudes, Sexual knowledge, Age differences.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.14417/ap.1341

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