Beyond living longer, it is increasingly important to live with more and better health during aging (1). Sexual well-being (SWB) was found to contribute to health and well-being in old age and is highly under-researched in the older population (2).

This study aims to analyze SWB in a cross-cultural way through older Portuguese and Slovenian older samples.

We interviewed 136 older participants with an average age of 71.6 years old. Participants were Portuguese and Slovenian and lived in the community. Participants were subjected to semi-structured interviews and these were subjected to a content analysis process.

The content analysis indicated nine themes related to SWB: self-reported good health; demonstrations of love; non-sexual joint activities; overall well-being and quality of life; partner support; positive self-image; being independent and active; sexual compatibility; and masturbation. Portuguese older adults experience their SWB associated mainly with self-reported good health and demonstrations of love, while Slovenians older adults associate their SWB mainly with non-sexual joint activities and overall well-being and quality of life.

The themes found in this study are fundamental evidence for cultural interventions and guidelines outlining in the context of sexual health in aging, mainly due to the scarcity of knowledge of SWB among older adults. 1.von Humboldt S et al. Sexual expression in old age: How older adults from different cultures express sexually? Sex Res Social Policy. 2020;1-15. 2.von Humboldt S et al. Are older adults satisfied with their sexuality? Outcomes from a cross-cultural study. Educ Gerontol. 2020;46:284-293.

No significant relationships.

Older adults who engage in sexual activities may benefit from increasing psychological and physical well-being, which may contribute to reduce a number of physical and mental health problems.

To analyze sexual well-being (SWB) in older adults’ perspective and to examine the potential explanatory mechanisms of a SWB overall model, in an older cross-national sample.

Measures were completed, using a variety of appropriate methods, including demographics and interviews. Complete data were available for 326 older adults aged between 65-102 years. Data were subjected to content analysis. Representation of the associations and latent constructs were analyzed by a Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA).

The most prevalent response of the interviewed participants for SWB was “touching and caring” (18.0%). A three-dimension model formed by “care and well-being”, “attractiveness, intimacy and touching”, and “sexual intercourse and pleasure” was presented as a best-fit solution for English older adults. SWB for Portuguese older adults were explained by a three-factor model: “health and desire”, “care, eroticism and affection” and “penetration sex”.

The outcomes presented in this paper emphasized the need to explore the diversity of indicators of SWB among older adults and the cultural differences of a SWB model for older adults.

A qualitative study about older adults’ sexual well-being and person-centered psychotherapy

The objective of this study was to evaluate the main concerns related to sexual well-being revealed by older adults in person-centered therapy, using qualitative research.

Interviews with 58 older participants, aged 65 to 82 years, living in the community were submitted to content analysis.

Eight main themes emerged from the results of the content analysis: Partner unavailability, family issues, physical changes due to aging, worries about hygiene, sexual dysfunctions, fear of physical abuse, communication issues and concerns about sexual transmitted diseases.

This study was relevant towards identifying the challenges older adults feel regarding their sexual well-being, as shared in therapy. Older adults referred their greatest challenges to be partner unavailability, family issues and physical changes due to aging.

No significant relationships.

A cross-cultural qualitative study about older portuguese and mexican adults and sexual well-being.

Sexual well-being (SWB) refers to the subjective emotional and cognitive evaluation of the quality of the individual's sexuality, it plays a relevant role in quality of life and health promotion on old age and has cross-cultural implications. The aim of this study is to analyse comparatively the perspectives of older adults on their SWB in Portugal and Mexico.

Data were collected from 86 Portuguese and 80 Mexican community-dwelling participants aged 65 years and older, using a semi-structured interview protocol. Older adults were inquired about their perceptions on what contributes to their sexual well-being. Socio-demographic data were also enquired. Content analysis was used to identify key themes.

Outcomes indicated eight themes: eroticism, supportive relationship, positive self-concept, health and self-care, romance, active life, tenderness and care, and no pain and no pregnancy restrictions, for both samples. Eroticism was the most frequent theme reported by Portuguese participants (31.4%) and health and self-care were the most frequent theme reported by Mexican participants (26.5%).

The empirical results of this study indicated that SWB is strongly influenced by socio-cultural and psychosocial values. This cross-cultural comparison between Portugal and Mexico contributes to understand this concept in old age with different perspectives and place a scenario for future culture-adapted interventions and comprehensive policies.

No significant relationships.