חיי מין בנישואים רבי-שנים ומשמעותם מהפרספקטיבה של שני בני הזוג בזיקנה צעירה

Background: Sex life is important for quality of life at any age, including old age, and is influenced by a variety of bio-psycho-social-cultural factors. Sexual activity in old age is characterized by rich and deep emotions and diverse aspects of sexuality, such as hugging, outercourse, and masturbation, compared to earlier periods in life. At the same time, sex life from a dyadic perspective among couples in long-term marriages in young old age is a subject that has scarcely been studied. Our goal is to examine how these couples experience their sex life and what it means in order to understand in depth processes in sexuality from a dyadic perspective in the present and throughout the years of marriage. Method: According to the principles of the phenomenological approach, qualitative interviews were conducted with 38 spouses (19 couples) aged 60-70 years old, using a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed according to a dyadic approach for analyzing interviews. Findings: Two themes were identified: (1) Couples adaptation to changes in sexuality with age and the ability to bridge gaps in sexuality: (a) less importance to the physical aspect of sexuality and more acceptance of what exists;(b) from sexuality that was characterized in the past by closure to sexuality that is now characterized by openness, as part of the processes of change;(c) From sexuality that included storms and emotional intensity to a relaxed and at ease sexuality today. (2) Sexual gaps in relationships, such as frequency of sexual intercourse and difficulty bridging them, were a less common experience. Conclusions: Three main conclusions: (1) The sex life of couples in the young old age stage is in line with other changes in their lives.(2) The prevailing experience is one of accepting changes in sexuality and coping with sexual gaps through various adjustments: (a) expanding the definition of sexuality beyond the physical aspect and in a broader context of relationships with the desire to basically continue being together; (b) positive perception of sexuality as it is experienced today; (c) Processes of change and growth contribute to emotional intimacy and sexual satisfaction. For example, changes in the perception of sexuality that emphasizes a better connection of the self and changes in communication patterns - from pleasing to assertive; (d) Sexual communication that includes an open and considerate dialogue about gaps and a collaborative approach based on a desire to satisfy the sexual needs of the partner in a way that contributes to the relationship. (3) Sexuality is experienced in a socio-cultural context with an emphasis on the cohort to which people belong. As professional care providers and as a society whose goal is to promote the field of sexuality in old age, this should be considered.