• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.225-233
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to measure the sexual life and life satisfaction of elderly in the rural community. For this study, questionnaires were given to 421 elderly enrolled to 16 community health post in Chungcheongbuk-do during a period from November 10, 2003 to January 20, 2004. The results of these analysis are as follows 1. In related to elderly's sexual life, $34.5\%$ of the respondents answered 'very important' or 'important'. $60.2\%$ of the respondents answered they had sexual intercourse. In related to frequency of sexual intercourse, $27.0\%$ of respondents answered they had sexual intercourse over once a month. In related to satisfaction of sexual life, $29\%$ of respondents answered they were satisfied with their sexual life. In related to the sexual life of early age, $66\%$ of respondents answered they had harmonious sexual lives. 2. The mean score of life satisfaction was 2.09 points out of a possible 3 points. Of the field of questionnaire on life satisfaction, the self actualization field showed the highest score. 3. Of the scores related to life satisfaction according to general characteristics, there were statistically significant differences in presence of spouse(p=.001), family pattern(p=.031). personal expenses a month(p=.001), family supporter(p=.013), and health status(p=.000). 4. Of the scores related to life satisfaction according to sexual life, there were statistically significant differences in importance on sexual life(p=.000), performance of sexual life(p=.0011), frequency of sexual life(p=.000), satisfaction of sexual life(p=.000), sexual life of early age(p=.000).

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.236-251
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• 1998

This study aimed at comprehending the meaning of sexual life for aged people, their strength of sexual desire and causes of change in their sexual life. It was another purpose to understand the extent of aged people's acknowledging the necessity of sexual consultation. This study adopted descriptive method using open-ended questionaires. The data for study was collected from 26 people over 65 years who reside in communities. It was gathered from April to June of 1998 through interview. The interviewee includes 16 males, 9 females and their average age was 73.3. 19 people among them have spouses. The conclusion of this study can be summarized as follows. 1) Attitude to sexual life: The meaning of sexual life for aged people is categorized as 'sense of duty', 'feeling of intimacy', 'basic desire', 'decrease of meaning' and 'meaningless'. 2) Sexual desire: Sexual desire of aged people is categorized as 'extinction', 'decrease', 'continuation' and 'restraint'. Restraint of sexual desire is due to social convention or the difficulty in fulfilling desire. 3) Causes of troubles in sexual life Causes which lead to troubles in sexual life of aged people can be categorized as 'physical', 'psychological' and 'social'. 'Physical' elements include 'incompetence of erection', 'decrease in duration of erection', 'increase in time needed to re-erection', 'declining of physical strength', 'decrease in vagina secretion' and 'worsening of health'. Among 'psychological' elements 'decrease of self-confidence', 'diminished concern of female aged people' are. 'Social elements' are 'absence of sexual parter', 'circumstances of living' and 'recognition of neighbor'. 4) Response to change of sexual life The reaction of aged people to change of sexual activities is classified as 'positive' and 'negative'. 5) Attitude to the consultation of sexual life of aged people The attitude to the consultation of sexual life in old age is classified as 'negative', 'doubtful' and 'positive'. This study explored the meaning which aged people in community attach to sexual life, the extent of their sexual desire, the causes of troubles in their sexual life, their emotional response to changes in sexual life, their recognition of necessity in sexual consultation. Considering the frequency of the statement, most of aged people who were interviewed thought much of sexual life and put emphasis on it. Those who said that sexual life has decreased meaning or is not important to them are few, Though aged people still maintain sexual desire, most of them have some trouble in sexual life. These trouble changes the sexual life, and results in negative feeling such as depression, renunciation and difficulty in relations. So they acknowledged that sexual consultation is necessary to them.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.13-27
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review the elderly people's sexual life, their perception of sex and identify difference between perception of sex of elderly and adults. Methods: A structured questionnaire survey was conducted for 188 elderly people and 181 adults. Collected data was analyzed with frequency, percentage, $x^2$-test, t-test, ANOVA. Results: 54.0% of the elderly were keeping their sexual life. 44.6% of those keeping their sexual life had a sexual affair once or twice a month. 56.4% of them had a sexual affair with their spouses. The elderly subjects scored 2.04 on average out of the full point of 4.0 about their perception of sexual life. Specifically, male subjects scored higher(2.41) than female subjects(1.67). There was significant difference between the elderly people's perception of sexual life and adults' the perception of sexual life about the elderly. The perception of sexual life differed significantly depending on the existence and non-existence of the spouse, sex, education, health state, present sexual life, sexual frequency, sexual satisfaction, the solution of its desire, the feeling about the sex. Conclusion: It was demonstrated through this study that the elderly people were maintaining their sexual desire and life continuously, and therefore, it is conceived that the elderly people's sex should be assessed and handled from a general perspective.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.393-401
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among sexual function, sexual stress, and quality of life in middle aged women patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods: Data were collected through questionnaires distributed to 154 middle aged women patient with diabetes mellitus in one hospital. Results: The mean sexual function score was $12.99{\pm}9.11$. There were statistically significant differences in sexual function according to age, level of education, employment status, time of being diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, number of complications, self-monitoring of blood glucose, menopausal status, and level of glycosylated hemoglobin. The mean sexual stress score was $26.99{\pm}16.88$. The score of quality of life was $79.12{\pm}14.30$. There were statistically significant differences in quality of life according to level of education. Sexual function was negatively correlated with sexual stress (r=-.46 p<.001) and positively correlated with quality of life (r=.32, p<.001), while sexual stress was negatively correlated with quality of life (r=-.36 p<.001). Conclusion: Higher sexual dysfunction in middle aged women patients with diabetes mellitus was correlated with lower sexual stress and improved quality of life, while lower sexual stress was correlated with improved quality of life.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.187-199
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe experiences of sexual life among Korean women with breast cancer. Methods: Data were collected by focus group and individual tape-recorded interviews. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Participants were 13 women who had stage I, II, or III breast cancer. Four major categories were discovered. "Not interested in sexual life at all" in which participants described their struggle to live while avoiding sexual life during initial stages of disease. "Sexual life that could not go back to previous normal life" in which participants described how they began to recognize many problems related to their sexual life resulting from the loss of femininity and pain during intercourse. "Dangerous marriage due to no sexual life" in which participants illustrated how no or unsatisfactory sexual life threatened their entire marriage and family life. Finally, "rediscovery of sexual life as a vital element in life" in which participants described how, with support from their spouse, they came to realize that sexual life was an important and vital part of their life. Conclusions: The results of this study could help in developing-educational programs to improve sexual well-being of women with breast cancer and their spouses.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.158-170
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• 2007

Purpose: To measure the sexual life and life satisfaction of the elderly in a rural sea village. Method: Data were collected from November 20, 2006 to January 10, 2007 through a personal. interview with 262 elderly registered at one primary health care post in Gyeongsangnam do using a questionnaire. Results: The mean life satisfaction score was each 20.9. Of the scores related to life satisfaction according to general characteristics, there were statistically significant differences in age(p=.003, p=.026), education level(p=.036), presence of spouse(p=.016), residence(p=.039), economic status(p=.000, p=.013), monthly spending(p=.000, p=.000), economic supporter(p=.001, p=.022), and perceived health condition(p=.005, p=.009). Of the scores related to life satisfaction according to sexual life characteristics, there were statistically significant differences in importance of sexual life(p=.000, p=.047), performance of sexual life(p=.018), frequency of sexual life(p=.006), satisfaction of sexual life(p=.002, p=.005), and sexual life of youth(p=.022, p=.000). Conclusion: We should investigate influencing factors on sexual life and life satisfaction of the elderly and include knowledge about sexual life of the elderly in health promotion programs for the elderly.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.492-500
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate sexual life in men after stroke Methods: The subjects were 60 post-stroke patients who visited a convalescent center for disabled people in Seoul, Korea. The subjects were discharged from the hospital and received physical therapy. Six items of sexual relationship were used to measure sexual life after stroke. Results: The most common sexual changes identified after stroke included decline in satisfaction, libido, coital frequency, satisfaction, and ability to perform sexual activities. Only 20.0% of the subjects reported that they discussed sexual life with health professionals. Conclusion: The change in sexual life was perceived as negative effects on their attitude toward sexuality. Some attitudes or improper beliefs that could negatively influence sexual readjustment after stroke nay be corrected through adequate counseling. Nurses should present not only accurate information regarding sexual concerns but also they can provide health education and sexual counseling in their practice.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.80-97
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to identify and describe a process of sexual adjustment of individuals with spinal cord injury: and to describe and explore positive and negative influences on the adjustment process. This qualitative study was conducted with 10 Korean individuals with spinal cord injury who had been physically disabled for more than one year. Data were collected and analysed at a same time using grounded theory method. Major categories of this study showed a process how the individuals with spinal cord injury adjust to their individual life as sexual beings. The process included and individual responses to the behavioral efforts including and . Initially physical aspects of sexuality seemed to be affected by spinal cord injuries. The changed physical aspects then influenced other aspects of their sexual life. Life satisfaction of each individual as a sexual being revealed as very subjective. It could be defined according to how the individual approved their sexual life no matter what and how much behavioral effort the person had done. In this study 3 types of sexual adjustment aspects were explored: 'Active adjustment' 'Passive adjustment' 'Maladjustment'. There were negative and positive factors influencing the adjustment process of individuals with spinal cord injury. Those factors might come from themselves, from families, or from social situations. Findings of this study suggested that sexual life of individuals with spinal cord injury should not be understood as a physical or behavioral matter. It was a combination of physical, psychological and social aspects of life. Therefore, appropriate rehabilitation programs for the sexual adjustment of individuals with spinal cord injury need to concern heterogeneous life values of them and obtain individualized services for each individual at a different stage of the sexual adjustment process.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.646-656
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• 2003

Purpose: The Purpose of this study was to investigate how elders in rural communities maintain their sexual life. Methods: Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 20 participants who were 65 years old or older, and either were married couples or were continuing the sexual relationship though widowed. Data were analyzed based on Strauss and Corbin's (1990) Grounded Theory Methodology. Results: The core category of experiences of the elderly's sexual life was identified with 'changeable sexual life at husband's mercy'. This process could be divided into 3 stages, which were the stage of recognition of sex difference and obstacle in sexual life, the stage of observation of partner's attitude and the stage of husband's lead in sexual life. Conclusions: This study found that sexuality was an important aspect for the elderly although their sexual interests and activities declined along with aging. In addition, the husband's sexual and economic capabilities and sexual difference were very important factors in the elderly's sexual life. It is suggested to consider sexuality as a normal aspect of life for the elderly when nurses plan for their care.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.133-143
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• 2003

The main purpose of the study is to identify the perception, as well as the prejudices, of sexuality of the elderly and their sexual life. Older men and women aged 66-80 (N=17) who are married, healthy, and living in communities were interviewed regarding ADL, present and past sexual practices, prejudices on elderly sexuality, and obstacles to sexual life. The findings of this study are as follows: First, the old perceived that sexuality even in old age is an important part of life. However, they were also prejudiced about sexual intimacy in old age. Second, although an increase in age is correlated with a decrease in sexual activity, a number of older men and women continue to have active sexual life and they are satisfied with it as ever. This indicates a duality in the way the elderly perceive sexuality. Third, health status, partner's responsiveness, and environmental problems are prominent obstacles to sexual life. The study revealed that late-life sexuality must be conceived as a complex bio-psycho-social phenomenon. Consequently, it is important to hold sexual education programs for the young and the old.