Journal of Korean Gerontological Nursing 2003;5(2):158-170.

노인의 성생활과 성의식 실태

양순옥, 김성실, 정금희, 김신정

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to explore the actual state and awareness of sexuality in elderly people and to provide basic data for care nursing for elderly people. Method : The participants, 193 elderly people, who used a city institution for elderly people. Data were collected between March 2002 and May 2002 using a questionnaire, which included 28 items on actual state of sexuality and awareness about sexuality. SPSS program was used in the analysis of data with a 0.05 level of significance.
Results
1) Of the 193 subjects, 107 had a spouse and 86 were single. For those people who had a spouse (n= 107), 65.4% kept up their sexual life. Reasons why sexual activity was impossible were mostly for 'disease' (46.1%). The frequency of sexual activity was once a month for 23.4%. Sexual desire compared to when younger was less for 45.8%. The degree of sexual satisfaction was, 'above the average' for 53.3% and for those dissatisfied with the sexual life at present, the main reason was 'because of the physical condition' (54.5%). The majority reported no consultation about sexual problems (78.5%). For those who were single (n=86), 45.3% had no concern about making the acquaintance of the other sex. On thoughts about the remarriage, 86.0% of the participants did not want to remarry. Men gave as the reason, 'saving face' and 'physical condition' (37.5% each) and for women, 'it is troublesome to take care of one's spouse' (74.2%). For those who want to remarry, 'soothing loneliness' (75.0%) was the most frequent response. 2) The mean sexuality knowledge score was 58.3 and men had a higher average score of 66.3 than women (53.2). out of a possible 100 points. 3) With the respect to the general characteristics, there were statistically significant differences in age (t=2.565, p=.011), sex (t=3.888, p=.000), educational level (F=8.430, p=.000), marital status (t=3.832, p=.000), perceived health condition (t=3.460. p=.001). presence of disease (t=3.538, p=.001), exercise (t=6.288, p=.002), participation in sexual (t=2.528, p=.015), frequency of sexual activity (F=5.097, p=.003), sexual desire (F= 14.942, p=.000), and wanting to remarry (t=2.616, p=.011).
Conclusion
As in the number of elderly people increase in our society, sexuality in this population will become more important for nursing. So, nurses who provide professional geriatric nursing care should have a high level of knowledge about sexuality in elderly people.

Key words: 노인, 성생활, 성 의식