Velhice e sexualidade: uma reflexão sobre o ciclo de educação sexual recebida e repassada aos filhos.

Abstract

The oldness isn’t formed by a group of people with the same characteristics, in contrast, the old age is a plural experience. Sexuality is a complex subject that has been studied with emphasis on its bio-psycho-social context. The primary goal was to measure the elderly’s knowledge about sexuality, in order to identify how the sexual education received has influenced or still influences their practices, as well, on their conversations with their children. It is a field, descriptive study, of qualitative nature. The survey was conducted with elderly participants in a support group, in the city of Cajazeiras- PB. An interview recorded, from a semi-structured been performed. Data were analyzed according to the technique of content analysis of Bardin. The research followed the 466/12 National Health Council resolution. To the accomplishment of the research, 20 elderly were interviewed, aged between 60 and 89. There were 9 categories in order to answer the questionnaires proposed by the primary goal. On the first category, about the sexuality at the elderly’s adolescence, there was a greater number of reports about sexual repression, by the other hand, some of the elderly spoke about the true love that existed at the time. On the second category, about their concept of sexuality, there were positive and negative meanings associated with their youth and physiological aspects. On the third category, about the information about sexuality provided by parents during adolescence, they were unanimous claiming that there weren’t any kind of conversation between parents and children about the subject. On the fourth category, about the sexual information provided to their children, half of the interviewed claimed they don’t speak about the subject with their children. On the fifth category, about the relation about the education received and their practices, most of them related about negative practices and fear, one of them spoke about positive aspects. On the sixth category, about elderly’s sexual life, most of them reported the nonexistence of sexual life on their age, others associated this to good feelings and one of them reported an increased sexual desire on this phase. On the seventh category, there was a discussion about their own sexuality and good feelings were reported, association with youth and negative experiences. On the eighth category, the elderly talked about the most difficult subjects to talk to their sons, 70% claimed that sexuality is in fact the most difficult subject. On the last category, about the elderly’s perception of the sexuality lived by the young today, 80% claimed to have a negative image of how young people exercise their sexuality, 50% of them, associated that point of view to the women that have active sexual life before wedding. Clearly the education received, directly influences the practices and education passed on to individuals.