Exploring the Sexuality of African American Older Women
Luciana Laganá, Theresa White, Daniel E. Bruzzone, Cristine E. Bruzzone
Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research · pp. 1129–1148 · Published 8 Nov 2013
10.9734/BJMMR/2014/5491Abstract
Aims: To identify sexually-related themes of the sexuality of older African American women. Study Design: Mixed method. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Psychology, California State University Northridge, between July 2009 and June 2011. Methodology: We included 13 African American older women (57 to 82 years of age), 11 of whom self-identified as heterosexual, one as bisexual, and one as lesbian. We used a semi-structured interview protocol through which we explored some aspects of the respondents’ sexuality (assessed at a superficial level, to be as tactful as possible). Moreover, we collected information on demographics and self-rated physical health. Two co-authors served as coders, and used content analysis to identify the most salient sexuality themes. Results: Emerging themes were (in order from most to least endorsed): having sexual desire (often unfulfilled); engaging in less sexual activity in older age; experiencing changes in one’s sexual life as a function of absence of a spouse; and exercising control over how one’s sexual life is conducted. Motivated by the paucity of our sexuality data, we have also provided suggestions to scholars interested in conducting more in-depth further research on this topic with older African American women. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the common notion that older women are asexual is a myth, while lack of a suitable sexual partner is a problem reported by many African American older women who would otherwise enjoy sexual interaction.
Cited by 13
Meredith Evans, Keat Welsh, Nkem Ogbonna · Anthropology & Aging · 2026
A. Gewirtz-Meydan, L. Ayalon · Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy · 2022
S. Thorpe, J. Dogan, N. Malone · Sexuality & Culture · 2021
Margaret A. Salisu · Journal of gerontological social work · 2021
Seanna C. Leath, Morgan C. Jerald, Tiani R. Perkins · 2021
Ashley Townes, S. Thorpe, T. Parmer · Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy · 2021
Margaret A. Salisu, Jagadīśa-devaśrī Dācus · Journal of gerontological social work · 2021
F. Gary, H. Yarandi, Mona A. Hassan · Issues in Mental Health Nursing · 2019
Katherine Ramos, J. Fulton · 2016
T. R. White, L. Lagana' · OA women's health · 2013
Related research
- Approach to Subfertile Women Older than 38 Years-Old: Our Experience in Tunisia — shares topic coverage
- Feasibility of a Group-based Programme Combining Vestibular Rehabilitation and Lower-limb Strengthening in Older Women with Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis: A Single-arm Pilot Study with Exploratory Clinical, Functional and Electromyographic Outcomes — shares topic coverage
- Cognitive Functioning, Health Screening Behaviors and Desire to Improve One’s Health in Diabetic versus Healthy Older Women — shares topic coverage
- The Influence of Sexuality Education on Inappropriate Sexual Behaviours among Secondary School Students — shares topic coverage
- Implication of Poor Awareness of Sex Education on Teenagers in Udenu Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria — shares topic coverage
Article metrics
Real usage data collected on this platform.
0
Page views
0
PDF downloads
0
Outbound clicks
13
Citations
Views by country
Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".
No views recorded yet.
Traffic sources
Referring site, by host.
No traffic recorded yet.
Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.