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Sexual Knowledge, Sexual Attitude, and Life Satisfaction Among Korean Older Adults: Implications for Educational Programs

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to: identify the sexual knowledge, sexual attitude, and life satisfaction in Korean older adults; and explore significant factors among demographic characteristics, sexual activity, sexual knowledge, and sexual attitude, that influence life satisfaction among Korean older adults. Participants were recruited in community centers and public parks (N = 571). Data were collected on sexual knowledge, sexual attitudes, and life satisfaction using three valid and reliable instruments. Data were analyzed using t test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression. Educational level, gender, and living arrangement significantly affected sexual knowledge and attitudes (p < .001) among older adults. There was a positive relationship between sexual knowledge and attitudes (r = .490, p < .001), life satisfaction and sexual knowledge (r = .144, p = .001), and life satisfaction and sexual attitudes (r = .121, p = .004). Age (β = .16, t = 3.45, p < .01), gender (β = .52, t = 2.07, p < .05), presence of spouse (β = −.12, t = −2.42, p < .05), and sexual knowledge (β = .10, t = 2.17, p < .05) were factors with a significant influence on life satisfaction for older adults. When designing and implementing sexual counseling and education programs for older adults, individual background, sexual knowledge, and sexual attitudes must be assessed and considered. Also, those without spouses who live alone may need more attention because they tend to have low knowledge levels and negative attitudes toward sexual activity.

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Funding

This study was funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (Mest) (2011-0009799).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Nursing, Ewha Womans University, 52 Ewhayeodae-gil Seodaemoon-Ku, Seoul, 03760, South Korea

    Hyojung Park, Sook Jung Kang & Sungwon Park

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  1. Hyojung Park
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  2. Sook Jung Kang
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  3. Sungwon Park
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Correspondence to Hyojung Park.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Park, H., Kang, S.J. & Park, S. Sexual Knowledge, Sexual Attitude, and Life Satisfaction Among Korean Older Adults: Implications for Educational Programs. Sex Disabil 34, 455–468 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-016-9453-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-016-9453-9

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