title: Public Attitudes Toward Sexual Expression in Long-Term Care: Does Context Matter?
abstract: The purpose of this study was to (a) examine how age and sex of long-term care (LTC) residents influence public attitudes toward sexuality in LTC and (b) understand how, in the absence of cognitive decline, residing in LTC influences the perception of sexuality as a basic human right. Attitudes were examined using a factorial vignette with a probability sample of 325 respondents from a southern state. Results indicate that attitudes were not statistically affected by a vignette character's age or sex; but respondent education level, parenthood status, and religious affiliation did have direct bearing on attitudes. The notion of sexuality as a basic human right for residents of LTC was ultimately challenged as 19% of respondents said that LTC residents should not be permitted to have sexual relations with their spouse in the facility.
authors: 1 Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.
authors: Erin
authors: E
authors: Yelland
authors: 2 University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
authors: Amy
authors: A
authors: Hosier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: aging; attitudes; long-term care; sexual behavior; sexual expression