Effects of experiences in sexuality on anxiety and quality of life of elderly people

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the effects of experiences in sexuality on anxiety and quality of life of elderly people. Method: this is a cross-sectional and analytical study developed with 550 elderly people. Validated instruments were used to obtain data on sexuality, anxiety and quality of life. The analysis was performed with the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Structural Equation Modeling with 95% confidence interval. Results: among the dimensions of sexuality, affective relationships and better coping with physical and social adversity exerted anxiety-reducing effects. In addition, sexual intercourse and better coping with physical and social adversities exerted effects of increased quality of life. Conclusion and implications for practice: health professionals can invest in sexuality, to be worked on in groups and individually, especially in the affective component, since it had a strong and positive effect on quality of life, and in physical and social adversity, which had a moderate and negative effect on anxiety.