We need to 'change the script' on how condoms are viewed by single middle-aged Canadians, says noted
Milhausen was the lead on a new study that shows most single middle-aged Canadians are not practicing safe sex and don't think it's that important.
The study, published Thursday in The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, surveyed 2,500 Canadians in what is behind called the first survey of its kind in
It showed that 69 per cent of sexually-active 40 to 59-year-old men and women who were either single, divorced, separated or widowed did not use a condom the last time they had sex.
That compares to 46 per cent for single, sexually-active university students.
Middle-aged singles become more lax about unprotected sex, feel awkward bringing up the subject with a new partner and don't identify with the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as much as they should, Milhausen said.
"First we have to raise awareness in older adults that they are at risk for sexually transmitted infections," said Milhausen in an interview Thursday.
"The second thing is normalizing condom use as part of the sexual script. That it's awkward to bring up for some people and we may associate condoms with risk, danger and infidelity. It may have those negative connotations, which make people reluctant to bring them up with a partner they care about."
Middle-aged men who were never married are more likely to use condoms.
"People who are just coming back into dating might be out of practice with condom use and might be uncomfortable with talking about it," the U of G professor said.
"That accounts for half of the issue, but the other half is that half of the participants in the study were not at all or not very concerned about sexually transmitted infections.
They didn't have a level of concern that would motivate them to adopt condom behaviours, Milhausen said, which is of concern because STIs are on the increase amongst middle-aged sexually-active singles.
"Young people are getting that message all the time," she said.
The study was conducted in partnership with the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada and the makers of Trojan condoms.
Researchers surveyed 2,400 participants about their sexual health, happiness and pleasure as well as sexual behaviours and attitudes.
Milhausen said one of the issues with newly-single people in their 40s and 50s is that they have a bad recollection of condoms from when they were single many years ago.
"There's never been a better time to use condoms. Condom technology has changed dramatically over the past 20 to 30 years. Condom shape, condom thickness, condom features - ribs, dotted - different lubricants.
"Maybe when these men were coming of age sexually they only had a couple of options in terms of condoms and they did inhibit their pleasure or sensation. That doesn't have to be the case now at all," she said.
