Browsing by Author "Monteiro, Ana"
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- Are older adults well sexually? Sexual well-being among a cross-national sample of older adultsPublication . von Humboldt, Sofia; Leal, Isabel Pereira; Monteiro, AnaObjectives: To analyze sexual well-being (SWB) in older adults’ perspective, to investigate the latent constructs that can work as major determinants in SWB and to examine the potential explanatory mechanisms of a SWB overall model, in an older cross-national sample. Method: Measures were completed, using a variety of appropriate methods, including demographics and interviews. Complete data were available for 163 older adults aged between 65-97 years (M=74.2; SD = 4.743). Data were subjected to content analysis. Representation of the associations and latent constructs were analyzed by a Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA). Results: The most prevalent response of the interviewed participants for SWB was “affection and care” (11.0%). A three-dimension model formed by “intimacy and well-being”, “care, eroticism and desire”, and “sexual activity and health” was presented as a best-fit solution for German older adults. SWB for Portuguese older adults were explained by a three-factor model: “intimacy, health and desire”, “affection and well-being” and “sexual activity”. Conclusions: The outcomes presented in this paper emphasized the need to explore the indicators of SWB among older adults and the under-developed potential of a SWB overall model for the older population.
- How do formal caregivers experience the sexuality of older adults? Beliefs and attitudes towards older adults’ sexualityPublication . Monteiro, Ana; von Humboldt, Sofia; Leal, Isabel PereiraAim: The way caregivers experience the sexuality of older adults has implications to their identity and sexual manifestations. There are few studies that focus on the meaning of caring of older adults, taking into account their sexuality. This study aims to explore the experiences of formal caregivers (FC) towards sexuality among older adults, and to obtain a description of their experiences. Method: Complete data were available from six caregivers working in a nursing home. We used a sociodemographic questionnaire and topic interview guide. The data was subjected to content analysis. Results: The most prevalent response of the interviewed participants for ‘beliefs about the interest in sexuality’ was ‘health limitations despite the desire’, for ‘observed behaviours related to sexual expression’ was ‘masturbation’, and for ‘reactions/behaviours due to the demonstration of sexual expression was ‘using humour”. Conclusion: Future educational and intervention programs in the institution should take into account our findings to improve their efficacy on discussing these issues and to ultimately promote sexual wellbeing.
- Validation of the PANAS: A measure of positive and negative affect for use with cross-national older adultsPublication . von Humboldt, Sofia; Monteiro, Ana; Leal, Isabel PereiraObjectives: Positive and negative affect is a relevant facet of well-being for community-dwelling older adults. This article reports the validation of the Positive And Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), by means of confirmatory analysis. Methods: A community-dwelling cross-national sample of 1291 older adults aged 75 years-old and older voluntarily completed the PANAS. The relations between variables in the model were evaluated using structural equation based on maximum likelihood estimation. The distributional properties, cross-sample stability, internal reliability, and convergent, external and criterion-related validities of the PANAS were analyzed and found to be psychometrically acceptable. Results: Our results outcomes support for the hypothesis that the PANAS is valid and reliable in the two 10-item mood scales, hence fit for use with older adults, within a culturally diverse view of well-being. Conclusions: The psychometric properties of the PANAS are satisfactory in this older sample, and according to those of its early version. Taken together, these results substantiate the validity of this measure when applied to an older community cross-national population.