Elderly women's attitudes toward sexual activity among their peers

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Abstract
This study investigated the attitudes of elderly (60–90 years old) women toward sexually active older adults. Sex, marital status, and living site were systematically varied in eight versions of a vignette depicting a sexually active older adult. Subjects (N = 120) were systematically assigned to one of eight versions of the vignette, yielding equal numbers (15) for each of the experimental cells. A semantic differential scale was used for subjects to rate the person in the vignette alternately as friend, family member, and church member. Analysis of variance revealed no difference in relation to sex. Marital status of the person in the vignette did have an effect. Subjects’ attitudes were more positive toward married sexually active older adults than those who were widowed. In addition, subjects’ attitudes were more positive toward married sexually active older adults and widowed sexually active older adults living in an apartment than widowed sexually active older adults residing in a nursing home. In general, attitudes were positive toward sexual activity in older adults in all of the social relationships identified.

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