Maxwell C, Boyle M
Psychology Department, Claybury Hospital, Woodford Bridge, Essex, UK.
AIDS Care. 1995;7(3):277-93. doi: 10.1080/09540129550126515.
Statistics suggest that older and younger people are about equally at risk for HIV infection, yet existing research on heterosexuality and safer sexual practices has tended to focus on people under the age of 25. The present qualitative study investigates risk behaviours and the practice of safer sex in older populations. Group discussions comprising women over the age of 30 (n = 23) targeted two issues: the gendered power dimension of heterosexuality and safer sex in long term relationships. Cohort issues were also discussed. The discussion groups revealed that the imbalance of power between men and women which has been shown by previous research to constrain younger women's choices with regard to safer sex, continues to affect older women's decisions. Many of the group participants still found it difficult to assert themselves in sexual relationships and even those who were able to challenge overt pressures to engage in unsafe sex were still susceptible to internalized social pressures. In addition, it seems that risks for older age groups are increased by difficulties in continuing to use condoms in long term relationships where monogamy cannot be taken for granted. It was also apparent that there are difficulties in changing sexual behaviours which were established before HIV became an issue.
统计数据表明，老年人和年轻人感染艾滋病毒的风险大致相同，但现有的关于异性恋和安全性行为的研究往往集中在25岁以下的人群。本定性研究调查了老年人群中的风险行为和安全性行为的实践情况。由30岁以上女性（n = 23）组成的小组讨论针对两个问题：异性恋中的性别权力维度以及长期关系中的安全性行为。还讨论了队列问题。讨论小组表明，先前研究显示的男女之间的权力不平衡，这种不平衡限制了年轻女性在安全性行为方面的选择，继续影响着老年女性的决定。许多小组参与者仍然发现在性关系中难以维护自己的权益，甚至那些能够挑战进行不安全性行为的明显压力的人，仍然容易受到内化的社会压力的影响。此外，在一夫一妻制不能理所当然存在的长期关系中，继续使用避孕套存在困难，这似乎增加了老年人群的风险。同样明显的是，在艾滋病毒成为问题之前就已确立的性行为改变存在困难。
