Volition and sexuality of older adults in long-term care residences

Abstract

This article presents an undergraduate thesis whose general objective is to explore and describe the volition of institutionalized older adults in relation to sexuality in the city of Mar del Plata in 2024. A qualitative approach with an exploratory-descriptive design was adopted. To meet the proposed objective, data was collected through a semi-structured interview based on the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO), organized around five thematic axes: sociodemographic data, occupational history, conceptions and practices of sexuality, volition (personal causation, values, interests), and environment-context (sociocultural and physical aspects). A purposive maximum variation sampling strategy was used, consisting of ten older adults living in long-term care residences. Based on the qualitative analysis, the findings indicate that the volitional components related to sexuality among older adults are diverse and shaped by the uniqueness of their perspectives and lived experiences of sexual expression throughout their lives, as well as by their current perceptions of personal causation, values, and interests. It was also found that both physical and sociocultural environmental factors exert a restrictive influence on the possibilities for sexual expression. This study provides insight into how volition is expressed in relation to the right to desire, intimacy, and sexual expression among institutionalized older adults. It invites reflection on this topic from the perspective of occupational therapy and encourages further research and the development of interventions.