title: Content analysis of public opinion on sexual expression and dementia: Implications for nursing home policy development.
abstract: We examined public opinion of sexual expression and dementia to inform nursing home policy and practice.
  
  
  
  A content analysis was conducted on public comments (N=1194) posted in response to a New York Times article about a highly publicized legal case involving a husband engaging in sexual acts with his wife who had dementia, living in a nursing home. Researchers utilized constant comparative analysis to code the comments; reliability analysis showed moderately strong agreement at the subcategory level. Data were also coded to indicate whether the commenter thought the couple should or should not have been allowed to be sexual.
  
  
  
  One primary theme was identified: conditions necessary for someone to be sexual. Six categories were identified within this theme, with the public commentary considering factors such as marital relationships, intimacy needs and several sexual consent-related issues as key conditions necessary to be sexual in a nursing home setting. Overall, the majority of commenters were in support of sexual expression for an individual with dementia in the described situation.
  
  
  
  This study revealed sexual expression among individuals with dementia is a contentious issue with strong public opinions about how this should be managed in a nursing home setting. These opinions should be considered as policy related to sexual expression in nursing homes is developed.
authors.affiliation: Center on Aging, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Maggie L
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3260-5568
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Syme
authors.affiliation: School of Family Studies and Human Services, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yelland
authors.affiliation: Center on Aging, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Laci
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cornelison
authors.affiliation: Center on Aging, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Judith L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Poey
authors.affiliation: Center on Aging, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krajicek
authors.affiliation: Center on Aging, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Gayle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doll
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000941:ethics*; D011050:Policy Making; D011639:Public Opinion; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology
keywords: health-care policy; nursing homes; public opinion; sexual expression