A Comparison of Actual and Perceived Sexual Risk Among Older Adults

Journal of Sex Research
Maggie L SymeJessica Barnack-Tavlaris

Abstract

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...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 17, 2018·Journal of Medical Internet Research·Perrine CréquitPhilippe Ravaud
Apr 9, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Matthew Lee SmithAli Boolani
Jan 3, 2021·AIDS and Behavior·Rebecca A de VliegJennifer Manne-Goehler
Jun 22, 2021·Frontiers in Psychology·Jeffrey GassenMichael P Muehlenbein

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Software Mentioned

Mechanical Turk ( AMT )
AMT

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