The Scottish Mail on Sunday

TMI* Grandma! Elderly are most open generation about sex lives

*That’s Too Much Informatio­n ...as every grandparen­t knows

- By David Jarvis

CHILDREN who cringe at their parents talking about sex should beware – their grandparen­ts are even more willing to spill bedroom secrets.

According to a new survey, pensioners are more open to speaking about sex and other sensitive subjects than any other age group.

Researcher­s found that 39 per cent of those aged 65 and over would happily tell their loved ones whatever they want to know about their lives, compared with just 20 per cent of 18-to-24-year-olds and 32 per cent of those aged between 55 and 64.

Nine per cent of pensioners said they talk about their sex life, both past and present, within the family – the same as those in the 18-to-24 bracket, but one per cent more than those aged 25 to 64.

When it came to alcohol, the over-65s were the most open generation with 54 per cent saying they were completely open with family about their experience­s, good and bad.

That compared with just 26 per cent of 18-to-24-year-olds; 23 per cent of 25-to-34-year-olds; a quarter of 35-to-44-year-olds; nearly a third (32 per cent) of 45-to-54-year-olds; and 47 per cent of 55-to-64-year-olds. Almost half of pensioners said they had no secrets when it came to money, while less than a quarter of those aged 44 and under could say the same.

Meanwhile, the over-65s also had fewer regrets with 44 per cent saying they would do the same with their lives again compared with 27 per cent across other age groups. The survey of 2,000 UK adults was commission­ed by software company Iternal, which allows people to store and share their life stories digitally.

Its spokesman Paul Wiseall said: ‘Plenty of families are comfortabl­e discussing sex, drugs and their past, but our findings clearly show those aged 65 and over are by far the most open when it comes to talking about sex, drugs, alcohol and money.

‘Maybe the wisdom that comes with age makes them want to share what they have learned along the way?’

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom