养老机构护理员对老年人性表达的认知与应对策略

Institutional Caregivers’Perceptions of and Coping Strategies for Sexual Expression of Nursing Home Residents

[目的]了解养老机构护理员对老年人性表达的认知与应对。[方法]采用质性研究方法,对J养老机构5名护理员进行参与式观察与半结构式访谈。[结果]机构养老老年人的性表达存在多种形式,既有语言上的,也有行为上的,既有浪漫意味的性表达,也有暧昧意味的性表达;护理员对老年人性表达的认知较为积极,或认为这是一种正常反应,或认为是疾病导致的无意识行为,或认为是心理诉求表达的工具或手段,他们极力避免老年人性表达的暧昧意味;护理员对老年人性表达的应对多是消极的,其应对方式主要有刻意忽视、直接制止、报告家属或院长,以及隐藏自身女性特质等。[结论]养老机构护理员对老年人性表达的认知较为多样和积极,但其应对方式却较为消极与被动。养老护理员对老年人性表达的认知与应对策略,对老年人的性健康与生活质量有重要影响,应在这方面对其加强教育与培训。

To explore institutional caregivers’perceptions of and coping strategies for sexual expression of nursing home residents,we used qualitative research methods to conduct participatory observation on and semi-structured interviews with 5 nursing caregivers in a care facility J.Results show that there are various forms of sexual expression of nursing home residents including linguistic and behavioral as well as romantic and indecent.Caregivers hold a relatively active view towards older adults’sexual expression:they regard it as a normal reaction,or unconscious behavior caused by disease,or means of expressing psychological appeals,rather than consider it as something erotic.However,their responses are mostly negative;for example,they would deliberately ignore or directly prevent older people’s expression,or report it to family members of older residents or the manager of the care facility.Besides,they would also choose to hide their gender identities.We can conclude that caregivers have various active perceptions of older adults’sexual expression,but their responses are relatively negative and passive.Caregivers’perceptions of and coping strategies for older people’s sexual expression have an important impact on the sexual health and quality of life of the latter,and therefore education and training in this aspect should be enhanced.