Sexuality in old age: a social representations study

Sexual experiences are an everyday reality for the elderly population, involving feelings and emotions that provide physical and mental satisfaction. In this sense, the aim was to seize the social representations of the elderly concerning sexuality. It is a descriptive study of a qualitative nature, of which the participants were 30 elderly who attended a convivial group located in Joao Pessoa-PB, Brazil. In-depth interviews were employed, and their content was subjected to the lexical analysis of ALCESTE software. The content was distributed in five classes: conception/meaning of sexuality in old age; importance of sexuality in old age; natural aspects of sexuality; absence of sexual experiences; social aspects of sexuality. The results show that participants have detailed knowledge on the issue, emphasizing its multifaceted meaning. The acceptance of sexual practices was evidenced, with sexuality being represented as something natural and important for the quality of life of the elderly person. The negative perception on the part of society was also stressed, bringing about prejudice and exclusion. It is believed that this study can promote reflections and attitude change toward the sexuality of the elderly person, as well as highlight its importance for the quality of life of the elderly.