Sexuality of the Aged and the Attitudes and Knowledge of Nursing Students

Sexuality of the aged is one area of particular concern to nurse educators, because students' lack of knowledge and negative attitude can have far-reaching effects on nursing care of the elderly. This study examined the relationship of the dependent variables, attitude and knowledge, to the independent variables of ethnicity, age, experience in health care, family income, religious affiliation, religiosity, living arrangements, and level of education. One hundred fifty-eight female nursing students completed White's Aging Sexuality Attitude and Knowledge Scale. The study found that higher knowledge was related to more positive attitude scores (r = .25, P<.004). Age was also significantly related to both positive attitude (r = .44, P<.001) and higher knowledge (r=.54, P<.001). Older students had a more positive attitude toward the elderly and were more knowledgeable about aged sexuality than younger students in the sample. One-way analysis of variance was used to test the significance between means of the dependent and independent variables. A statistically significant difference was found between ethnicity and attitude (f=33.09, P<.001) and ethnicity and knowledge if= 18.36, P<.001). Asian students in this study had a more negative attitude and were less knowledgeable about aged sexuality than Caucasian students. The study suggests that nurse educators need to pay special attention to the age and ethnicity of students when planning gerontological learning experiences designed not only to facilitate knowledge acquisition, but to promote positive attitudes toward the elderly. It has been projected that when today's nursing students reach the prime of their careers, they will spend 75% of their practice time with the elderly (Butler, 1980). Negative attitudes and stereotypical beliefs about the aged have been rampant, and college students have not been immune (Grassi-Russo & Morris, 1981; Miko, 1987). The area of aged sexuality is of particular concern to nurse educators, because perpetuation of myths and lack of knowledge regarding elderly human sexuality can have far-reaching effects on elderly nursing care. Negative attitudes toward sexuality of the elderly may even be detrimental to the health of older persons by leading them, their care givers, and significant others to believe aged sexual feelings and actions are abnormal (Falk, 1980). It is also conceivable that interest in caring for the elderly and quality of nursing care provided to this population may be adversely affected by stereotypical beliefs, negative attitudes, and inadequate knowledge. Therefore, educating nursing students to effectively care for older clients includes uncovering and changing negative attitudes and misinformation about aged sexuality.