Sexuality in the Later Years

Sexuality in the Later Years: Roles and Behavior pulls together evidence from the anthropological, psychological, social, and physiological disciplines and represents an effort to present a coherent picture of sexual roles and behavior in the later years. This work does not pretend to answer all questions that could be raised concerning sexuality and aging but attempts rather to concentrate on issues that have been relatively neglected, primarily options, potentials, and possibilities for the individualization and humanization of sex roles and sexual behavior of older persons. The book is organized into five parts. Part I examines concepts of sexuality in the later years, including cultural attitudes and behaviors towards sexuality, psychological and sociological perspectives, and a life-span model of sex-role development. Part II on life-styles deals with the impact of aging on the sexuality of those who are unmarried in later life; the relationship between interpersonal intimacy and adaptation to stress throughout adult life; and the range of sexual orientations in the later years, along with their incidence, their contributions to social adaptation, and the particular constraints surrounding them. Part III discusses issues in research and therapy while Part IV considers views of sexuality and aging in other countries, namely Canada and Sweden. Part V inquires into the problems associated with transitions in the later part of the life cycle of love.