title: Affectivity and sexuality in the elderly: often neglected aspects.
abstract: Sexuality and affectivity constitute a complex phenomenon involving many spheres: biological, psychological and social. To investigate these aspects, we distributed a dedicated questionnaire, followed by an interview, to 130 elderly residents in Milan and 100 in Monza. The answers indicated that the elderly communicate their emotions regarding the affective and sexual sphere, with different levels of desire for physical contact. The main variables were sex, age, marital status, co-morbidity and poly-pharmacotherapy, the perception of health status and of oneself, past experiences, cultural conditioning and social factors.
authors.affiliation: University of Milan-Bicocca, Department Of Clinical Medicine, Prevention and Sanitary Biotechnology, Division of Geriatrics, San Gerardo Hospital Monza, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Umidi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vergani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Annoni
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011584:Psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires