When online becomes offline: attitudes to safer sex practices in older and younger women using an Australian internet dating service

Abstract

The internet is a useful venue for women of all ages to meet new sexual partners. Older women are vulnerable to STI acquisition through failure to use condoms with a new partner. Research is needed to determine effective interventions to increase condom use in this age group.

Safer Sex in Later Life: Qualitative Interviews With Older Australians on Their Understandings and Practices of Safer Sex

“…For many, sexual expression, pleasure and identity remains important as they age, although research also indicates there is diversity amongst older adults in this regard (Field et al, 2013;Fileborn et al, 2015a;Fileborn, Thorpe, Hawkes, Minichiello, & Pitts, 2015b;Gott & Hinchliff, 2003;Gott, Hinchliff & Galena, 2004;Lindau, Leitsch, Lundberg, & Jerome, 2006;Minichiello, Plummer & Loxton, 2004). Changes in social norms in the Englishspeaking West regarding the acceptability of divorce and re-partnering after divorce or the death of a partner also mean that there are greater opportunities for initiating new sexual and romantic relationships in older age (Bateson, Weisberg, McCaffery, & Luscombe, 2012;DeLamater, 2012;DeLamater & Koepsel, 2015;Idso, 2009;Nash, Willis, Tales, & Cryer, 2015). Accompanying advances in technology and the development of online dating have facilitated the process of finding sexual and romantic partners in middle and later life (Bateson et al, 2012;Malta, 2007;Malta & Farquharson, 2014).…”

“…Changes in social norms in the Englishspeaking West regarding the acceptability of divorce and re-partnering after divorce or the death of a partner also mean that there are greater opportunities for initiating new sexual and romantic relationships in older age (Bateson, Weisberg, McCaffery, & Luscombe, 2012;DeLamater, 2012;DeLamater & Koepsel, 2015;Idso, 2009;Nash, Willis, Tales, & Cryer, 2015). Accompanying advances in technology and the development of online dating have facilitated the process of finding sexual and romantic partners in middle and later life (Bateson et al, 2012;Malta, 2007;Malta & Farquharson, 2014).…”

“…Several authors have noted that older heterosexual women may face a higher susceptibility to HIV and STI transmission on account of the physiological and hormonal changes that typically accompany ageing, such as decreased estrogen production leading to thinning of the vaginal wall and subsequent greater susceptibility to tears and cuts (Altschuler & Rhee, 2015;Brooks, Buchacz, Gebo, & Mermin, 2012;Idso, 2009;Johnson, 2013), and the low rates of condom use of post-menopausal women who no longer fear unintended pregnancy (Altschuler & Rhee, 2015;Bateson et al, 2012;Idso, 2009;Johnson, 2013;Lindau et al, 2006). Older men can be reluctant or unable to use condoms as a result of erectile difficulties (Idso, 2009;Johnson, 2013), and older men who take erection-enhancing medications can face a higher likelihood of contracting an STI (Smith & Christakis, 2009).…”

“…Additionally, the dominant sexual and gendered sexual scripts that older people grew up with may restrain their ability to openly negotiate condom use or other safer sex practices in new sexual relationships (Altschuler & Rhee, 2015;Bateson et al, 2012;Nash et al, 2015;Zablotsky & Kennedy, 2003). Further, safer-sex campaigns and policy are typically targeted towards younger people (Bateson et al, 2012;Bourne & Minichiello, 2009;European Expert Group on Sexuality Education, 2016;Gedin & Resnick, 2014;Kirkman, Kenny & Fox, 2013;Nash et al, 2015).…”

“…Additionally, the dominant sexual and gendered sexual scripts that older people grew up with may restrain their ability to openly negotiate condom use or other safer sex practices in new sexual relationships (Altschuler & Rhee, 2015;Bateson et al, 2012;Nash et al, 2015;Zablotsky & Kennedy, 2003). Further, safer-sex campaigns and policy are typically targeted towards younger people (Bateson et al, 2012;Bourne & Minichiello, 2009;European Expert Group on Sexuality Education, 2016;Gedin & Resnick, 2014;Kirkman, Kenny & Fox, 2013;Nash et al, 2015). Health care professionals are often reticent to discuss sex per se with older patients (Gott et al, 2004;Grant & Ragsdale, 2008;Nash et al, 2015;Nusbaum, Singh, & Pyles, 2004) and older people often wait for their health care provider to initiate discussions on sex (Lindau et al, 2006;Nash et al, 2015;Nusbaum et al, 2004;Slinkard & Kazer, 2011).…”