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Unveiling the Perspectives on Sexual Unwellness: A Cross-National Qualitative Study with Older Adults from Mexico and Portugal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 August 2024

S. von Humboldt ,
N. M. Mendoza-Ruvalcaba ,
J. A. Ribeiro-Gonçalves ,
A. Chávez-Rodríguez ,
E. D. Arias-Merino ,
G. Low  and
I. Leal
S. von Humboldt*
Affiliation:
1William James Center for Research, ISPA – Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
N. M. Mendoza-Ruvalcaba
Affiliation:
2University of Guadalajara CUTONALA, Health Sciences Division, Guadalajara, Jalisco
J. A. Ribeiro-Gonçalves
Affiliation:
1William James Center for Research, ISPA – Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
A. Chávez-Rodríguez
Affiliation:
2University of Guadalajara CUTONALA, Health Sciences Division, Guadalajara, Jalisco
E. D. Arias-Merino
Affiliation:
3Public Health Department, Universidad de Guadalajara CUCS, Guadalajara, Mexico
G. Low
Affiliation:
4Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
I. Leal
Affiliation:
1William James Center for Research, ISPA – Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Sexual unwellness (SU) has been linked to a lack of sexual satisfaction and to an incapacity to maintain sexual relations.

Objectives

The objective of this cross-cultural study is to shed light on older adults’ perspectives on SU across cultures.

Methods

Eighty-three older participants (65 to 98 years of age) took part in this qualitative study. Participants lived in the community and were of two different nationalities (Portuguese and Mexican). Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and content analysis was then carried out.

Results

SU emerged in the findings of the content analysis through six themes: Dissatisfying Sexual Experiences; Feelings of Isolation; Spirituality; Medication; Unattractiveness and Pain. The most common theme among older Portuguese participants was ‘Dissatisfying Sexual Experiences’ (25.5%). ‘Feelings of Isolation’ was most common among older Mexican participants (13.7%).

Conclusions

A diversity of experiences of older adults in relation to SU was highlighted in this study. Moreover, cross-cultural research on the construct of SU is essential for understanding the cultural differences in the conceptualization of the construct and how these themes may influence the quality of sexual life in old age.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Keywords

Cross-culturalOlder adultsQualitative studySexual Unwellness
Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 67 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 32nd European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2024 , pp. S201
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Psychiatric Association
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