title: Social representations of sexuality for the elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to know the social representations of sexuality for the elderly, based on the Social Representation Theory.
  
  
  METHODS
  study performed in a Basic Family Health Unit in Maracanau-CE, Brazil, with 30 elderly adults. Data were collected from March through April of 2013, using the free word evocation technique. Data were organized and processed using the EVOC 2000.software
  
  
  RESULTS
  the subjects evoked 150 words associated with the evocator word "sexuality". Out of these, 43 were different. At the possible core of the representation of sexuality for the elderly, the following words were found: love, affection and respect. Sex, companionship, understanding and coexistence composed the intermediate elements of representation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the performed analyses pointed to love, respect and affection as central elements that structured and organized the social representation of sexuality in the elder years for the group studied.
authors.affiliation: Curso de Enfermagem, Faculdade Metropolitana da Grande Fortaleza, Fortaleza, CE, BR.
authors.forename: Maria Amélia Crisóstomo
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Queiroz
authors.affiliation: Curso de Enfermagem, Faculdade Metropolitana da Grande Fortaleza, Fortaleza, CE, BR.
authors.forename: Rejane Martins Enéas
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lourenço
authors.affiliation: Curso de Enfermagem, Faculdade Metropolitana da Grande Fortaleza, Fortaleza, CE, BR.
authors.forename: Manuela de Mendonça Figueirêdo
authors.initials: Mde M
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, BR.
authors.forename: Karla Corrêa Lima
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Curso de Enfermagem, Faculdade Metropolitana da Grande Fortaleza, Fortaleza, CE, BR.
authors.forename: Rachel Gabriel Bastos
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Curso de Enfermagem, Faculdade Metropolitana da Grande Fortaleza, Fortaleza, CE, BR.
authors.forename: Sara Taciana Firmino
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Bezerra
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D012938:Social Perception