BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Elderly is the result of the natural course of time, leading to physiological, psychological and social changes. Sexual self-efficacy is one of the factors affecting sexual function and marital satisfaction. On the other hand, marital satisfaction improves the quality of life and increases the life expectancy of elderly women. Therefore, considering the importance of this issue and problems of aging, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sexual self-efficacy and marital satisfaction in elderly women.
METHODS: This correlational-descriptive study was performed on 129 elderly women of the Jahandidegan Daily Center in Gorgan in 2018. The data were collected using questionnaires of demographic characteristics, female sexual function index and marital satisfaction. Data were analyzed using SPSS16 via descriptive and inferential statistical methods.
FINDINGS: The sexual function was 21.8 + 19.3 and marital satisfaction was 53.3 + 11.2. Spearman correlation coefficient test showed a significant relationship (r= 0.43, p< 0.01). Moreover, there was no significant difference between sexual function with age, education, job, blood pressure, diabetes as well as spouse's blood pressure and diabetes, but there was a significant relationship between sexual satisfaction and job (P=0.02).
CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicated that increasing sexual self-efficacy enhanced marital satisfaction. Thus, in order to increase the quality of life and marital satisfaction in elderly women, it is recommended that all counseling and care centers consider training and health care programs related to the sexual health of the elderly in their policies and plans.