Sexual risk among older
adults (OAs) is prevalent, though little is known about the accuracy of sexual
risk perceptions. Thus, the aim was to determine the accuracy of sexual risk
perceptions among OAs by examining concordance between self-reported sexual
risk behaviors and perceived risk. Data on OAs aged 50 to 92 were collected via
Amazon.com's Mechanical Turk.
Frequency of sexual risk behaviors (past six
months) were reported along with perceived risk, namely, sexually transmitted
infection (STI) susceptibility. Accuracy categories (accurate, underestimated,
overestimated) were established based on dis/concordance between risk levels
(low, moderate, high) and perceived risk (not susceptible, somewhat
susceptible, very susceptible). Approximately half of the sample reported
engaging in vaginal (49%) and/or oral sex (43%) without a condom in the past
six months. However, approximately two-thirds of the sample indicated they were
"not susceptible" to STIs.
No relationship was found between risk
behaviors and risk perceptions, and approximately half (48.1%) of OAs in the
sample underestimated their risk. Accuracy was found to decrease as sexual risk
level increased, with 93.1% of high-risk OAs underestimating their risk.
Several sexual risk behaviors are prevalent among OAs, particularly men.
However, perception of risk is often inaccurate and warrants attention.
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By:
- 1 Center on Aging , Kansas State University.
- 2 Department of Psychology , Radford University.
- 3 Department of Psychology , The College of New Jersey.
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