Attitudes toward masturbation among residents of Spanish residential aged care facilities

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to explore residents’ attitudes toward masturbation in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). The sample consisted of 47 residents who were purposively selected from five RACFs in the city of Barcelona. Participants were asked to reflect upon what they would think, how they would react, and what possible reactions they might expect from staff were they to enter a room and find a fellow RACF resident masturbating. Almost half the residents expressed some kind of negative reaction, ranging from calling into question the appropriateness of masturbation to extreme rejection of this sexual behavior, although positive and neutral reactions also emerged. Most participants said they would avoid interfering with the situation and that they would expect the same reaction from staff. However, reprimanding the resident in question was also mentioned. Results are discussed in the light of privacy and group pressure issues, which could act as barriers to this kind of sexual expression in RACF. We highlight also the importance of developing formal policies and offering sex education to residents in order to preserve and promote their sexual rights and needs.