Facts

Contact person:
Charlotta Löfgren
Financer:
  • The Research Platform Global and Glocal Health (GGH)
Responsible at MaU:
Charlotta Löfgren
External project members:
  • Aleksandar Štulhofer - Zagreb University
  • Ivan Landripet - Zagreb University
Affiliated:
  • Dubravka Gladoic Håkansson - Region Skåne
Collaborators :
  • Sharron Hinchliff - University of Sheffield
  • Thomas Hansen - Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Time frame:
25 June 2025 - 25 June 2027
Faculty/department:
Research environment :
Research subject:

Project description

This project is part of a larger international mixed-method study that consist of six countries – Croatia, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, Japan, and Canada. The overarching goal is to create knowledge on sexual aging in both partnered and non-partnered individuals.

By introducing a novel processes-oriented concept — Successful Sexual Aging (SSA) – the project focuses on positive aspects of sexual aging. It intends to explore psychosocial processes that underlie SSA, and the factors that support or impede it. Specifically, the project will:

  • develop and cross-culturally validate a multi-dimensional measure of SSA
  • describe changes in SSA and factors that drive them
  • assess the role of social connectedness in sexual aging
  • address potential age-, gender-, relationship status-, and sexual orientation-specific characteristics of SSA
  • learn how personal and couple sexual histories shape the dynamics of SSA.

It should be noted that SSA is not a normative concept and should not be equated with sexual activity

Research, design or scientific issues involved or addressed

By combining qualitative and quantitative approach, the proposed project will provide a unique cross-cultural contribution to research on aging and sexuality. Its findings would not only advance our understanding of SSA, but also inform culturally-sensitive sexuality sexuality and sexual health and relationship interventions for older adults. This Swedish part study will focus on collecting qualitative data from informants in Scania in the age of 65+ years.

The aim is to conduct 20-30 qualitative research interviews with partnered and non-partnered women and men. The half-structured interview guide consists of the following themes:

  • Personal experience of aging and perception of ageism.
  • Psychosocial mechanisms.
  • Relationship quality and sexual satisfaction.

Methods, laboratory, and approaches

The Swedish study will conduct individual qualitative interviews, transcribe the recordings and then code and analyze the data via the software program Nvivo using Braun and Clarkes reflexive thematic analysis. The purpose is to find patterns or themes relevant to positive sexual aging. In the recruitment process we will use digital flyers on social media such as Facebook, as well as homepages to organizations that are geared towards elderly people (e.g. PRO). Inclusion criteria are females and males 65+ years, born in Sweden and living in Scania.

The aim is to conduct 20-30 interviews with a variation in gender and age (e.g. younger elderly 65-75, and older elderly 75 and above). At least one third of the interviewees will be non-partnered older adults. The interviews will be held at the university in a separate room or, if the participant prefers, via Zoom. This qualitative phase of the project with start fall 2025 and last over a two year period. In the first phase we will design flyers and make a detailed recruitment plan. Secondly, we will write an application to EPM for research ethical approval. Thirdly, we will conduct the interviews and fourthly, we will analyze the qualitative collected data. The results of the project are planned to be disseminated through scientific articles and oral presentations at conferences, as well as in popular science contexts.