The Meaning of Sexuality in Advanced Age: A Qualitative Study in Turkey

Abstract

This study was planned as a qualitative study to identify the changes in the sex life and problems of 15 married women 60 years or older who presented to Family Health Centers affiliated with Istanbul Besiktas Community Health Center. Study data were collected using the questionnaire prepared by the researchers based on the literature, via face-to-face interview method. Based on the participants' perceptions and expressions of sexuality, the findings of the study were discussed using themes such as marital harmony, lack of sexual desire due to the feeling of loss, fraternity, feelings of friendship, dyspareunia due to vaginal dryness and lack of sexual desire because of the culture. Participants and their statements were codified in the order they were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 66.53 and the mean duration of marriage was 43.6 years. It was found that the participants who stated that their marital harmony was good perceived sexuality as a positive issue while those who had poor marital harmony perceived it as a negative issue; and that those who experienced loss had problems such as lack of sexual desire and dyspareunia due to the cultural environment and physical shortcomings. We propose that in order to improve health and enhance the quality of life at the advanced age, nursing and counseling services specific to that period are required.