Correlation between Sexual Health and Quality of Life in Older Women
Keywords:
sexual health, quality of life, older womenAbstract
Objective: To study older women in terms of their sexual health and quality of life, and describe the relationship between the two factors.
Design: Descriptive correlational study.
Methodology: The participants, recruited by means of stratifed random sampling, were 200 women aged 60 years or more who were members of Bangkok Federation Club for Older Adults. Data were collected between August and November 2017, using 1) a demographic data questionnaire, 2) a sexual health questionnaire for older women, and 3) the quality of life scale for Thai older adults. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation coeffcient, with a signifcant level set at .05.
Results: The participants’ overall sexual, physical, psychological and social health was at a moderate level and love relationship aspect had a good level, with their. For quality of life, their physical and spiritual aspects were at a high level. However, their psychological and social aspects were at a moderate level. A positively moderate relationship, at a statistically signifcant level, was found between the participants’ overall sexual health and their overall and categorical life quality (r = .449, p <.001; r = .391 - .441; p < .001, respectively). Also, a statistically signifcant positive relationship was found between their categorical sexual health and their overall and categorical life quality (r = .333 - .402, p < .001; r = .240 - .405; p < .001, respectively).
Recommendations: The fndings of this study could help healthcare providers to develop a better understanding of the relationship between sexual health and quality of life. Such an understanding could be a foundation for planning and promoting sexual health to improve older women’s quality of life
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