Effect of sexual attitude of aged people on sexual life: Moderating effect of general characteristics

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of sexual attitude among the elderly to their sexual life while exploring the moderating effect of general characteristics in the relationship between sexual attitude and sexual life. Methods: A descriptive research design was used. The subjects were 322 married elderly from four silver centers in Seoul and Gangwon-do. Aging Sexuality Attitude Scale developed by White (1982) was used to examine sexual life status and general characteristics of the subjects (gender, age, academic background, religion, economic status, and residential type). For data analysis, x²-test, t-test, and ANOVA were conducted. Since the dependent variable of sexual life is a binary variable, hierarchical logistic regression was implemented. Results: There were 180 people (55.9%) who had a sexual life. Depending on gender (x²=35.03, p<.001), academic background (x²=29.45, p<.001), and economic status (x²=7.36, p=.025), the subjects showed significant difference in terms of sexual life. Regarding sexual attitude, the subjects showed significant difference depending on gender (t=-5.47, p<.001), age (t=-2.31, p=.021), academic background (t=5.16, p<.001), economic status (F=3.17, p=.043), and sexual life status (t=4.99, p<.001). Conclusion: It is important to devise the sex education program in consideration of gender, age, and academic background that showed moderating effects.