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Park, Lee, Cha, and Shin: Development and Effect of Sex Education Program for the Elderly
Original Article

Korean J Adult Nurs 2014;26(3):266-274.

Published online: NaN June 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7469/kjan.2014.26.3.266

Development and Effect of Sex Education Program for the Elderly

Hyojung Park1, , Gunjung Lee1, Hyun Su Cha2, Sun Hwa Shin2

1Division of Nursing Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul

2Graduate School, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea

Corresponding author: Park, Hyojung Division of Nursing Science, Ewha Womans University, 52 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-750, Korea. Tel: +82-2-3277-2824, Fax: +82-2-3277-2850, E-mail: hyojungp@ewha.ac.kr

Received 26 December 201325 April 2014       Accepted 30 May 2014

Copyright © 2014 Korean Society of Adult Nursing

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of sex education for the elderly on sexual knowledge and life satisfaction.

Methods

A quasi-experimental study used a non-equivalent control group pre-post test design. A seven week sex education program for the elderly was developed and offered to the treatment group. Subjects were drawn from three welfare centers in Seoul. Twenty six were selected for the treatment l group while 27 were assigned to a comparison group. Sexual knowledge and life satisfaction were measured.

Results

The level of life satisfaction reported by the treatment group was greatly increased (t=2.14, p=.037). There were no statistically significant differences in sexual knowledge between both the two groups.

Conclusion

A positive influence of sex education was found to increase the level of life satisfaction. Further study on customized sex education for the elderly by individual characteristics is required.

Keywords: Aged, Knowledge, Sexuality, Sex education

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Table 1.
Organization of Sex Education Program for the Elderly
Session Theme Contents Intervener
1st Opening ․ About educational program Psychiatric doctor
․ Rapport formation between participants
Curiosity on the sexuality of the elderly ․ Understanding sexuality of the elderly
․ Characteristics of a man and woman
․ Correlation of the brain and sexuality
2nd Removal of the social prejudices on the sexuality of the elderly ․ Awareness on the sexuality of the elderly Psychiatric doctor
․ Reasons that maintenance of sexual life is good for health
among the elderly
․ Establishment of right sexual ethics
3rd Aging and sexual life ․ Change on the concept of sexuality Director of a sexual counseling center
․ Sexuality of the elderly shown in the popular culture
․ Breaking sexual prejudice
․ Free discussion
4th Sexual ethics of the elderly ․ Type of sexual distortion Director of a sexual counseling center
․ Sexual assault of the elderly and its punishment
․ Cases of sexual counseling
5th Sexual dysfunction and treatment of the elderly ․ Ways of sexual health Urologist
․ Pelvic floor muscle exercise for improvement of sexual
function
․ Adjuvants for improvement of sexual function
6th Prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted disease (STD) ․ Types of sexually transmitted disease Urologist
․ Treatment and prevention of STD
 
7th Improvement of understanding on spouse ․ Effective communication techniques Communication expert
․ Demonstration and practice of communication method
․ Program satisfaction and evaluation
Table 2.
General Characteristics and Sexual Behavior between the Experimental and Control Groups (N=53)
Characteristics Categories Total Exp. (n=26) Cont. (n=27) x2 or t p
n (%) or M±SD n (%) or M±SD n (%) or M±SD
Age (year)   72.5±6.30 74.0±4.65 71.0±7.38 1.76 .086
Gender Male 27 (50.9) 14 (53.8) 13 (48.1) 0.17 .678
Female 26 (49.1) 12 (46.2) 14 (51.9)
Education ≤ES graduate 23 (43.4) 12 (46.2) 11 (40.7) 0.16 .691
＞ES graduate 30 (56.6) 14 (53.8) 16 (59.3)
Family type Living alone 14 (26.4) 6 (23.1) 8 (29.6) 0.73 .867
Spouse 17 (32.1) 8 (30.8) 9 (33.3)
Spouse and child 12 (22.6) 6 (23.1) 6 (22.2)
Child 10 (18.9) 6 (23.1) 4 (14.8)
Presence of spouse Yes 29 (54.7) 14 (53.8) 15 (55.6) 0.02 .901
No 24 (45.3) 12 (46.2) 12 (44.4)
Health status of spouse Healthy 14 (48.3) 7 (50.0) 7 (46.7) 2.17 .338
Moderate 10 (34.5) 6 (42.9) 4 (26.7)
Not healthy 5 (17.2) 1 (7.1) 4 (26.7)
Health status of oneself Healthy 15 (28.3) 7 (26.9) 8 (29.6) 0.47 .790
Moderate 18 (34.0) 8 (30.8) 10 (37.0)
Not healthy 20 (37.7) 11 (42.3) 9 (33.3)
Economic status Upper 1 (1.9) 0 (0.0) 1 (3.7) 2.21 .331
Middle 26 (49.1) 15 (57.7) 11 (40.7)
Lower 26 (49.1) 11 (42.3) 15 (55.6)
Sexual activity - Do (n=18)
Sexual desire Frequently 6 (33.3) 4 (40.0) 2 (25.0) 0.45 .799
Sometimes 8 (44.4) 4 (40.0) 4 (50.0)
Not at all 4 (22.2) 2 (20.0) 2 (25.0)
Frequency of sexual relations Once a 2 weeks 4 (22.2) 2 (20.0) 2 (25.0) 0.87 .649
Once a 1 month 13 (72.2) 7 (70.0) 6 (75.0)
Once in 6 months 1 (5.8) 1 (10.0) 0 (0.0)
Not at all 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0)
Partner of sexual relations Spouse 14 (77.8) 7 (70.0) 7 (87.5) 0.79 .588†
Love interests 4 (22.2) 3 (30.0) 1 (12.5)
Prostitute 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0)
Sexual activity - Don't (n=35)
Sexual desire Frequently 3 (8.6) 1 (6.3) 2 (10.5) 0.20 1.000†
Sometimes 32 (91.4) 15 (93.8) 17 (89.5)
Not at all 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0)

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group; ES=elementary school.

† Fisher's exact test.

Table 3.
Homogeneity Test of Sexual Knowledge and Life Satisfaction between the Experimental and Control Groups (N=53
Variables Exp. (n=26) Cont. (n=27) t p
M±SD M±SD
Sexual knowledge 14.88±5.37 13.15±7.11 1.00 .322
Life satisfaction 16.05±3.67 14.58±3.97 1.40 .168

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group.

Table 4.
Change of Sexual Knowledge and Life Satisfaction between the Experimental and Control Groups (N=53)
Variables Groups Pretest Posttest Difference t p
M±SD M±SD M±SD
Sexual knowledge Exp. (n=26) 14.88±5.37 15.65±5.43 0.77±5.63 0.73 .466
  Cont. (n=27) 13.15±7.11 14.33±7.47 1.19±5.84    
Life satisfaction Exp. (n=26) 16.05±3.67 16.73±4.90 0.68±4.64 2.14 .037
  Cont. (n=27) 14.58±3.97 14.19±3.70 -0.39±3.40    

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group

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