Correlates of spouse relationship with sexual attitude,interest, and activity among chinese elderly

The purpose of the study was to investigate current sexual attitudes and behavior patterns of rural Chinese elderly and to assess the effects of spouse relationships. The subjects were interviewed by village doctors and social workers in six villages selected along the Yellow River in central China utilizing a structured questionnaire. The symbolic interaction perspective and ecological developmental approach provide theoretical frameworks for understanding the interactional, associational, and transformational nature of sexuality. The findings confirmed that aging itself abolishes neither the need nor the capacity for sexual activity. However, sexual attitude, interest, and activity were directly affected by spouse relationships. Chinese culture for thousands of years has sought to narrow sexual activities to the purpose of reproduction and, therefore, has likely suppressed sexual needs. This study is among the first investigations in shaking the traditional taboo of talking about sex. It is not only to provide information about Chinese elderly who constitute one-fifth of the world population of the aged, but also adds to the body of knowledge of elderly sexuality, especially to the gerontological literature of non-Western traditions.