Nursing students' attitudes toward sexually active older persons

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Nursing Education
• Human Sexuality

Background:

• Attitudes towards sexuality in older adults are often shaped by societal stereotypes.
• Understanding nursing students' perceptions is crucial for effective geriatric care.
• Previous research has not fully explored attitudes toward geriatric sexuality among nursing students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate senior baccalaureate nursing students' attitudes toward geriatric sexuality.
• To assess how perceptions of sexual activity influence views of older adults.

Main Methods:

• Two experiments utilized vignettes depicting a 68-year-old in a nursing home.
• Participants rated the individual based on marital status (married/widowed) and sexual activity (active/inactive).
• A 10-item questionnaire measured attitudes toward traits like well-adjustedness and mental alertness.

Main Results:

• A significant bias favoring the sexually active older person was observed.
• This positive perception of sexual activity was consistent across genders and marital statuses.
• Sexually active older adults were rated more favorably on key personality traits.

Conclusions:

• Senior nursing students hold more positive attitudes toward sexually active older adults.
• Findings suggest a need to address potential biases in nursing practice related to geriatric sexuality.
• Educational interventions may be beneficial to promote a comprehensive understanding of aging and sexuality.