Sexual Activity In Later Life Research Articles

Active sex life for older people in Chile: biological, psychological and social variables influencing engagement

Introduction: Sexual activity in later life is increasingly being researched, but there is a gap in knowledge about the Global South, mainly Latin America. Objective: The objective of this article is to evaluate how biological, psychological and social factors influence active sex life in older Chilean people, using a gender-stratified analysis. Methodology: The study is based on secondary data analysis of the fifth National Survey of Quality of Life in Old Age, carried out in Chile in 2019 with a sample of 2,132 people aged 60 and over. Bivariate analysis was conducted to test the influence of biological, psychological and social variables on having an active sex life. Additionally, multiple hierarchal logistic regressions were carried out using a gender-stratified analysis to explore whether the independent variables predict active sex life. Results: Self-perceived health and chronic illness did not have predictive value regarding active sex life in older Chilean adults. However, partner health was a significant factor in predicting active sex life, particularly for women. People who reported being dissatisfied with life had 55 percent lower chance of having an active sex life than those who reported being very satisfied with life. Attitude towards sexuality, relationship status and education level were other variables that predicted an active sex life for older adults in Chile. Still, there were significant gender differences in the results. Conclusion: Interpersonal, psychological and social factors are more relevant than biological factors (except for age) when predicting sexual activity for older Chileans, and gender differences are central when analysing sexual activity.

Effect of Duration of Education on Sexual Activity and the Mediating Role of Illness in Later Life: A Natural Experiment in English Schooling Reform.

This study aimed to examine the effect of increases in the duration of education on sexual activity in later life using the instrumental variable approach. Cross-sectional data were obtained from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, Wave 6 (2012/2013) for the analysis. The effect of the duration of education on a binary variable for sexual activity in the past month was examined by two-stage least squares estimation using the 1947 schooling reform as the instrument. A total of 1493 participants were included. The 1947 schooling reform significantly extended the duration of education by a mean of 0.86 years (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.52-1.20; F = 24.70) for men and 0.81 years for women (95% CI, 0.54-1.09; F = 33.82). The second-stage regression showed that an additional year of education increased the probability of having sexual activity in the past month by 0.16 points (95% CI, 0.07-0.25) for men and decreased the probability of having sexual activity in the past month by 0.18 points (95% CI, - 0.30- - 0.05) for women. The causal mediation analysis revealed that long-standing illness mediated the mechanism between education and sexual activity, but the mediational effect was clearly observed only for men: the indirect effect for men was 0.10 (95% CI, 0.01-0.20; the proportion mediated, 78.1%) and for women was - 0.16 (95% CI, - 1.23-0.90; the proportion mediated, 97.8%), respectively. This study confirmed the causal effect of education on sexual activity. However, the effect for men and women was completely opposite.

Trajectories of intimacy in later-life: a qualitative study of Czech and Polish narratives

Intimacy has been identified as an important component of satisfying sexual activity in later life. While the existing literature reports that the importance of intimacy increases with age, the mechanisms behind this process have not been extensively researched. Even less is known about later-life sexual intimacy among women and men from former communist countries. This study explored the nuances of sex and intimacy by interviewing 50 Polish and Czech women and men aged 60 to 82. Data were analysed thematically using an inductive approach. Three main themes were developed to represent the extent to which intimacy was part of participants’ lives: 1) lifelong representation of sex as an intimate connection between individuals; 2) later-life shift towards intimacy-oriented sex for two main reasons: health-related necessities and a new relationship context; and 3) no intimacy whatsoever. The study findings indicate that a later-life refocus from an instrumental, penetrative-oriented view of sex towards a wider variety of intimate behaviours may be beneficial, not only for improving quality of sexual life, but also to gain new ways to express emotional connections between the partners.

Reasons people refrain from sex in later life

There has been an increase in research on sexual activity in later life, yet far less is known about the actual perceptions and experiences of older adults who refrain from sexual activity. In the current study, a thematic analysis was conducted to identify patterns in semi-structured interviews with 47 older adults, aged 60-91. The analysis yielded seven themes that describe why older adults refrain from sex: 1) avoiding confronting sexual dysfunctions, 2) avoiding confronting the aging body, 3) avoiding performance anxiety, 4) being uninterested in sexual activity, 5) taking time to grieve the loss of a partner, 6) avoiding judgment, and 7) seeing sexuality as evolving and changing. Themes were organized according to the bio-psycho-social perspective and based on the axis of personal (self-focused) and interpersonal (partner-focused) motives. It is perfectly acceptable for people to refrain from sexual activity for their own reasons. However, if older adults want to remain sexually active, they should receive complete information about the many possibilities of treating different sexual problems in later life and about the many ways, beyond sexual penetration, one can enjoy sexual activity even in old age.

Factors affecting sexuality of elderly people and sexual dysfunctions

Introduction: Sexuality of elderly people is often an omitted topic. There isn’t a compact definition of sexuality of seniors. The available data shows that there are many factors influencing sexual activity in later life. There are also specific changes which contribute sexual dysfunctions. Purpose: The aim of present is to investigate what factors are related with decreased sexual activity of seniors, biological basis of sexual dysfunctions and how many elderly people it affects. Materials and methods: There were analyzed publications from 2007 to 2022 from PubMed and Google Scholar using phrases: older adults, elderly people, sexuality of elderly people, factors influencing sexuality, sexual dysfunctions. The state of knowledge: Almost half of people above 60 years old are sexually active. There are factors like low availability of partner, stereotypes, chronic diseases and treatments that contribute worse quality of sexual life. There are reports that communication between doctor and patient on the topic of sexuality is not sufficient, even more positive attitudes towards sexuality of seniors. Biological changes like lower hormone levels in women as well as in men contribute sexual dysfunctions. There are almost one in five women above 57 years old who feel pain during intercourse and there are about 43% of men above 65 with erectile problems. The awareness of sexual dysfunctions could make it easier to treat them. Conclusions: It is essential to pay attention to psychological, social, cultural and attitudes of health professionals towards sexuality of elderly people to diagnose sexual dysfunctions. Understanding biological basis of sexual dysfunction can facilitate matching appropriate treatment. Education can improve seniors’s quality of life and sexual functions.

Predictors of Sexual Function and Performance in Young- and Middle-Old Women.

Background: Maintaining sexual life in older women might be perceived as a measure of healthy and successful aging. This study aimed to establish the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) based on the DSM-5 criteria and predictors of sexual performance in older women. Methods: A total of 185 women between 55 and 79 years old were included in the study. Validated scales were used to assess sexual function (Changes in Sexual Function Questionnaire (CSFQ)), the propensity for sexual excitation/inhibition (Sexual Excitation/Sexual Inhibition Inventory for Women), and sexual anxiety/avoidance (Body Exposure during Sexual Activity Questionnaire (BESAQ)). Multiple regression was used to assess the factors affecting sexual function and the prevalence of FDS. Results: Sexual distress was diagnosed in 14.1% of women, and FSD in 16.2% (n = 53), whereas sexual problems (CSFQ) were diagnosed in 33.3% of women, and distressing sexual concerns in 35.1%. Women with a lower number of male sexual partners (β = −0.22), a better attitude toward sex (β = 0.25), higher importance of sex (β = 0.31), a higher level of sexual excitation (β = 0.34), and that were sexually active (β = 0.39) had better sexual function, as evaluated by CSFQ. Conclusions: Most older women remain sexually active. The diversity of sexual activity in later life should be affirmed to encourage women to be sexually active and to strengthen the response to sexual stimuli.

Different Strokes for Different Folks? Examining a New Measure for Age-Relative Sexual Attitudes

Recent research suggests increasingly permissive attitudes towards sexual activity in later life. Harboring more conservative beliefs especially as one reaches older age, however, may translate into how one views and navigates sexual health changes. A sample of participants (N = 706; Mage = 52.72 years, SD = 9.57, range = 36-79; 60.8% male) was recruited through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk to complete a survey on sexual beliefs about age and aging. Participants completed two versions of the Relative Sexual Attitudes Scale (RASA), wherein they were prompted to consider either “someone their own age” or “an older person” in response to items assessing sexual attitudes. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis was used to confirm the original five-factor structure, reduce the total items from 31 to 25, and establish measurement equivalence for the 36-54 year-old and 55+ year-old samples. Through a series of profile analyses investigating each subscale, scores did not significantly differ between the two prompts, although significant age-group differences were found with the 36-54 year-old age group reporting more open attitudes than the 55+ year-old age group across all subscales, except the traditional mores subscale. Sexual attitude subscale scores also differed by gender, engagement in partnered sexual activity, and whether one had spoken to a health professional about their sexual health in the past year. The findings support use of the RASA for adults 36 and older and highlight applications to understanding differences in sexual health into later life.

Different Strokes for Different Folks? Examining a New Measure for Age-Relative Sexual Attitudes

Fear of developing dementia is common and has been linked to delays in seeking medical attention (Arlt et al., 2008). We used data from 320 adults (M age = 39.7, SD = 12.3, range 20 – 70) to examine the ways in which objective knowledge and subjective experience with dementia influence positive attitudes toward persons with dementia. We further examined how these constructs related to fear of developing dementia. A path analysis showed the model fit the data well, X2 (DF = 1) = 0.74, p = .39; RMSEA < .001. Objective knowledge and subjective experience were significantly associated with higher allophilia. Allophilia and subjective experiences were associated with personal fear. However, allophilia decreased fear, whereas subjective experiences were associated with increased fear of developing dementia. To clarify these findings, we conducted a moderated regression in which age was examined as a moderator of the relation between allophilia and fear as well as the relation between subjective experience and fear. Significant results were obtained [F (5, 294) = 10.41, p < .001; R2 = .15]. Age moderated the effect of personal experience on fear. Stronger effects emerged for adults in their 20s compared to those in their 40s; similarly, age exerted a stronger effect for those in their 40s than for those in their 50s. Regarding age effects on the relation between allophilia and fear of dementia, for adults in their 20s and 40s, allophilia reduced fear of dementia. For adults in their 50s, allophilia was associated with higher fear.

The Role of Sexual Activity from the Perspective of Older Adults: A Qualitative Study.

Despite a growing amount of literature on aging and sexual activity, there are still a limited number of studies that capture older people's understanding of sexuality in later life. This study explored the meanings that older people ascribe to sexual activity and how these meanings relate to the continuation, the decline, and the complete cessation of sexual activity. Thirty in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with Czechs aged 50-75 years (13 men) who were recruited through a preventive cognitive health program offered at a hospital. The analysis was carried out with a grounded theory approach and the principles of consensual qualitative research. The study identified three dominant understandings of sexual activity in later life that emerged as a reflection of the aging process. The first was sexual activity within a relationship that represented proof of being with someone and where sexual inactivity was linked to the threat of loneliness. The second concerned sexual pleasure and its continuity in later life, while its loss gave room for affliction and the emergence of ageist beliefs. The third linked sexual activity with the connotations of self-identifying as young versus being self-perceived as really old. The study findings suggest that the understanding of sexual activity in later life is ambivalent. Its continuity is viewed as an instrument for mitigating the markers of getting old, while the threat of its decline may activate older people's desire for asexual aging and negative views on aging.

People with Alzheimer's disease and their spouse-caregivers: differences in perceptions of sexual satisfaction?

Older informal caregivers aged 65+ years account for 34% of all carers in the USA (Family Caregivers Alliance, 2016), 22% in England and Wales (Carers UK, 2015), and 24% in Australia (Deloitte Access Economics, 2015). For many older carers, this means looking after their spouse or intimate partner who in many cases has dementia (Donnellan et al., 2015). As the incidence of dementia increases, the need to understand the impact of caring on these intimate relationships becomes more vital, so the experiences of spousal caregivers can be anticipated, validated, and supported. It is also important to understand the gender differences in these care relationships, so that education and services can be tailored to meet the different needs of men and women caregivers. Sexual activity in later life is associated with both mental and physical health (Ganong and Larson, 2011; Anderson, 2013), and is therefore, important to maintain, perhaps even in the context of caring for someone with dementia.

Sexual Activity After 60: A Systematic Review of Associated Factors

Sexuality and the desire for affection and intimacy are important human features across the lifespan. To evaluate and synthesize the existing literature on factors associated with continued sexual activity in adults at least 60 years of age. Three databases were used to select articles, 57 of which met the selection criteria. Methodologic quality was assessed and data were extracted from these studies by two independent reviewers according to standards proposed by the Cochrane Collaboration. Studies were evaluated for quality, included sexual activities, and identified associated factors. Sexual activity was positively associated with past frequency of sexual behavior and partner's interest in sexual activity. Decreased sexual activity (and/or cessation) was associated with the presence of erectile dysfunction and partner's illness. Noteworthy were significant inconsistencies of findings across studies and contrasting findings of generally assumed factors associated with sexual activity in later years (eg, physical and mental health). However, increasing methodologic quality was observed in studies that were more recent. Probable reasons for disparate findings are discussed and recommendations for methodologic improvements are outlined, focusing on population diversity, construct definitions, measurement, and sampling techniques. The literature on sexual activity in older adults is vastly heterogeneous with methodologic caveats and inconsistent results evidenced across studies. Vigilant attention to methodology is essential because sexual activity in later life is multidetermined with amplified individual variability in older vs younger cohorts.

Staff attitudes and reactions towards residents' masturbation in Spanish long-term care facilities.

To explore staff attitudes and reactions towards masturbation in long-term care facilities. Staff attitudes and reactions towards the expression of sexuality in long-term care facilities may be influenced by the nature of the sexual behaviour being expressed. Staff attitudes towards masturbation, a common sexual behaviour in such settings, have gone largely unexplored so far. An exploratory, descriptive, qualitative research design. Fifty-three staff members working in five different long-term care facilities participated in the study. They were asked about what they would think, how they would react, and what possible reactions they might expect from workmates if they entered a room and found a resident masturbating. The majority of participants considered that masturbation was acceptable and avoiding interference was by far the most common reaction, although other reactions also arose. When asked about reactions attributed to workmates, mentions to reprimanding the resident and gossiping/joking about the issue were more frequent than acceptance. The discrepancy between professionals' own reported attitudes and those attributed to workmates suggests the existence of widespread negative reactions towards sexual activity in later life. In the light of these results, we underline the necessity of developing explicit policies regarding sexual issues. Formal training offered to staff would also help to recognise and preserve resident's sexual rights and needs.

Your Face is Your Fortune: Does Adolescent Attractiveness Predict Intimate Relationships Later in Life?

A growing literature documents the importance of physical attractiveness in young and middle adulthood for romantic, marital, and sexual relationships, but little is known about how attractiveness in adolescence matters to intimate relationships in later life. We ask: does attractiveness early in life convey ongoing benefits late in life, or do such benefits erode over time? We use multivariate regression models and more than 50 years of data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study to examine the connections between adolescent physical attractiveness and intimate relationships (i.e., sexual activity and access to potential sexual partners) in later life. We find that adolescent attractiveness facilitates sexual activity in later life. This relationship is largely driven by attractiveness increasing the probability of having access to potential sexual partners. However, attractiveness is not related to sexual activity among married couples, even after controlling for marital duration. Men, those in good health, and wealthier individuals are also more likely to engage in several facets of intimate relationships. These findings highlight the importance of relationship context for later life sexual activity and begin to explicate the pathways through which factors across the life course-particularly attractiveness-influence sexual activity in later life.

Sexual health and sexual activity in later life

SummaryThe population is ageing and the rights, welfare and wellbeing of this age cohort are becoming more globally prominent and the focus of much policy development. Whilst research is leading the way and informing this in many spheres of an older person's life, this is not the case for sexual health. Campaigns of sexual health literacy and intervention are targeted at ‘at-risk’ cohorts, largely ignoring those over 60 years of age. With increases in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in this age group and the potentially serious nature of untreated conditions, this review highlights the need for increased research, health literacy and targeted interventions. Social, societal and physical barriers preventing older adults engaging with safer sex have been identified, highlighting the extent of the attitudinal and policy shifts required to provide age parity.

The impact of mild cognitive impairment on sexual activity.

The aim of this study was to identify the unique impact of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) on sexual activity among older adults. Data for the study were drawn from a national survey entitled the "Determinants of Wellness among Older Malaysians: A Health Promotion Perspective" conducted in 2010. According to the Mini-Mental State Examination education-adjusted cutoff points, 15.6% of the 1046 respondents were identified as having MCI. Older adults with MCI had a significantly lower level of sexual activity than the healthy cognitive group (chi-square = 50.20, P < .001, 32.5% vs 62.3%). The results of 3-step hierarchical logistic regression model revealed that MCI is significantly associated with decreased sexual activity in community-dwelling older adults, over and beyond demographic factors, and age-related medical conditions affecting sexual activity (odds ratio 0.33, P < .001, 95% confidence interval 0.23-0.49). Findings from the present study support the significant role of cognitive functioning to perform sexual activity in later life.

Best practice in the management of primary nocturnal enuresis in children: a systematic review.

Nocturnal enuresis is the involuntary loss of urine at night in a child of an age and physical health where they would be expected to be dry. The prevalence of this condition in Australia has been estimated at 18.9% in children 5 to 12 years of age, with up to 19% of boys and 16% of girls aged 5 years wetting the bed at least once per month. Up to the age of 13 years bedwetting is more common in boys and more common in girls after this age. Nocturnal enuresis has a spontaneous cure rate of approximately 14% however up to 3% of children remain enuretic as adults. Although this condition is pathologically benign, it can have serious social and psychological repercussions for the sufferer including affects on self esteem, school success, parental disapproval and even sexual activity in later life. Despite the volume of information available for the management of enuresis, the majority of research has been conducted outside Australia. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to produce management guidelines for nocturnal enuresis in children specific to Australian clinical practice. This review considered systematic reviews or concurrently controlled trials (randomised controlled trials (RCT), pseudo-randomised controlled trials, controlled clinical trials (CCT), interrupted time series (ITS) and controlled before and after trials (CBA)), for examining effectiveness of interventions to manage nocturnal enuresis in children up to the age of 16 years. A systematic search of the literature was performed to identify all available evidence. Cochrane and other health technology assessment websites were searched for existing systematic reviews. For recent randomised controlled trials and controlled trials (1990 to 2007) Pubmed, Embase, and CINAHL databases were searched. Reference lists of all retrieved articles were searched for relevant trials. These reviews and guidelines were summarised and presented to an advisory panel of nurse continence advisors and clinicians to ensure relevance to Australian clinical practice. Methodological quality of all studies was assessed by two reviewers using the JBI critical appraisal forms for experimental studies located within the JBI-MAStARI software. This tool was used to identify all sources of bias. Where disagreement existed between the two reviewers a third reviewer adjudicated. Seven systematic reviews, eight new trials and two guidelines were used in the development of these guidelines.Briefly management recommendations include: CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high prevalence of nocturnal enuresis and the negative psychosocial sequelae that can arise from this condition, management is both readily available and effective. The practice of managing nocturnal enuresis in children should start with addressing both daytime wetting and any evidence of constipation. Following this, less invasive behavioural therapies should be attempted. If these measures fail then the use of alarms with or without short-term administration of desmopressin could be attempted. Other interventions have yet to be proven to be definitively effective and should be considered with caution.It should be emphasized however, that the vast majority of children will become continent at some future time point, with or without the benefit of interventions. While it is clear that some behavioural methods, alarms and desmopressin can be effective interventions, the evidence for other treatments is not so definitive. The observation however that even alarms and/or desmopressin do not work for all children suggests that research to establish the effectiveness of other interventions (especially behavioural and complementary treatments) should be performed in the form of large, carefully designed RCTs.

Factors influencing young adults’ attitudes and knowledge of late-life sexuality among older women

Objectives: Although sexuality is valued throughout the lifespan, older women's sexual expression can be influenced by physical, mental and social factors, including attitudes and stereotypes held by younger generations. By gaining an understanding of what influences negative attitudes toward sexuality and beliefs about sexual consent capacity, the stigma associated with sexuality in late life may be reduced. Method: Using vignette methodology in an online survey, we examined older women's health and young adults’ (N = 606; mean age = 18.86, SD = 1.42, range 17–36) general knowledge and attitudes toward aging and sexuality, personal sexual behavior, religious beliefs and perceived closeness with an older adult on attitudes towards sexual behavior and perceptions of consent capacity among older women. Results: The health status of older women proved important in determining young adults’ acceptance and perception of sexual consent capacity regarding late-life heterosexual/autoerotic and homosexual behaviors. Specifically, young adults expressed lower acceptance and more doubt regarding capacity to consent to sexual expression when the older woman was described as cognitively impaired. Additionally, young adults’ personal attitudes toward late-life sexuality, but not knowledge, predicted acceptance toward sexual expression and belief in sexual consent capacity. Conclusion: Attention toward the influence of older women's cognitive health and young adults’ attitudes toward late-life sexuality may prove beneficial in designing interventions to decrease the stigma associated with sexual activity in later life.

‘Older people’ talking as if they are not older people: Positioning theory as an explanation

This paper addresses the question of how we account for ‘older people’ talking as if they are not older people. Membership of an age category is usually conceptualised as having a pre-discursive reality, as is inherent in the concept of ‘denial of ageing’. This paper theorises membership of an age category as a discursive resource and uses positioning theory to examine what is said. Working within the framework of discursive psychology, it demonstrates both the complexity and the fruitfulness of identifying older-age related positions in talk. Data is presented where speakers position themselves as not-older-people or modify positionings of themselves as older. The data comes from interviews about a topic where age status is often treated as pertinent: sexual activity in later life. The analysis demonstrates that how speakers position themselves in relation to older age depends on, and has important consequences for, the particular local business of the interaction.