Graduate Program

Clinical Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

2009

Thesis Director

Caridad Brito

Thesis Committee Member

Jeanne Snyder

Thesis Committee Member

Anu Sharma

Abstract

Sexual interest and activity continue across the entire lifespan, but multiple barriers make ~xual behavior difficult for those in nursing homes. With increases in nursing home populations occurring during the last three decades, the anticipation of the baby boomers entering retirement and beginning to enter nursing homes over the next 10 to 30 years suggests that more knowledge is needed to assist nursing homes with making policies that are protective and reverential of sexuality. This literature review seeks to take a comprehensive look at the issue of sexuality for the elderly in nursing homes and identify whether adult children serve as one of the many1 barriers to elderly parents' sexual expressions. In the process of the literature review, it will become apparent that studies have already confirmed that institutional, physiological, psychological, and social barriers exist towards sexuality in nursing homes. Unfortunately, research findings specific to adult children's attitudes, behaviors, and roles regarding their parents' sexuality in nursing homes is lacking. Therefore, this review concludes and makes suggestions of how future research can assess the attitudes, behaviors, and roles of adult children and their parents in nursing homes more thoroughly. It is hoped that the suggestions made will serve as a guide, so that future research will lead to improved relationships among nursing home staff, residents, and adult children of the residents, and to the development of nursing home policies that will safely allow more sexual freedom to residents.

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