Sexuality in Late Adulthood
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Sexual feelings and desires continue throughout the life cycle and this is true for individual in late adulthood. Many of the psychosexual tasks older Americans must undertake are directly related to the aging process: Biological changes. As older men's and women's physical abilities change with age due to biology, their sexual responses change . There is also a decrease in interest and desire. Chronic illness, hormonal changes, vascular changes, and increasing frailty understandably result in diminished sexual activity. These considerations contribute to the ongoing evolution of the individual's sexual philosophy. One of the most critical life events is the loss of a partner. Because having a partner is the single most important factor determining an older person's sexual interactions, the absence of a sexual partner signals a dramatic change in the survivor's sexual interactions. Lastly, Psychological influences are a developmental concern. America is obsessed with youth and sexuality and often doesn't consider older adults as sexual beings. In addition, factors such as lack of sexual information, negative attitudes toward sexual expression, and mental health problems may interfere with older individuals' ability or willingness to see themselves as sexual beings. Image from McGraw Hill Image Library