By associating sexuality with youth and an attractive body, society excludes the elderly,
depriving them of affective and sexual experiences and, consequently, happiness. This
study aims to understand the relationship between older people at the University of
Maturity in Palmas-Tocantins and their sexual experiences in maturity, and the direct
relationship between sexuality and well-being and life satisfaction. The specific
objectives include: to identify the myths and prejudices about sexuality in contemporary
society; to check whether the elderly people at the University of Maturity in Palmas are
prejudiced about sexuality in maturity; to investigate the relationship that elderly people
have with sexuality, quality of life and happiness; to check whether the elderly people
at UMA - Palmas have an active and successful old age related to sexual experiences.
This research is characterized as empirical, qualitative and descriptive, adopting a
cross-sectional design, a study based on the phenomenological current, using
information collected through semi-structured interviews to answer the quest: What is
the representation of elderly people at the University of Maturity about sexual
experiences in old age, the relationship between sexuality and well-being and
satisfaction with life? The justification for this research lies in the persistence of the
negative concept of old age in contemporary society, associated with incapacity,
including the sexual aspect. It is believed that this research contributes to the
understanding of sexuality in old age, its psychological, social and cultural aspects,
and its link to well-being and life satisfaction. It is conjectured that, despite the physical,
psychological and social losses, the elderly can have quality of life, emphasizing the
importance of understanding their perception of sexuality and its relationship with
happiness and personal satisfaction. The results indicate that sexuality plays a
significant role in quality of life for the elderly at UMA, positively influencing their self-
esteem, self-knowledge and emotional well-being, happiness. They also revealed that,
for many, sexuality is a source of pleasure, connection and meanings that go beyond
the physical aspects, encompassing intimacy, affection and companionship. They
understand sexuality as a vital element of the human being that transcends sexual
activity and age, recognition that sexuality goes beyond the physical act and
encompasses a wide range of emotional, affective and identity experiences, and it is
clear that its impact on the quality of life of older people is profound and multifaceted.
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