Sex, health, and years of sexually active life gained due to good health: evidence from two US population based cross sectional surveys of ageing

Abstract

Objectives To examine the relation between health and several dimensions of sexuality and to estimate years of sexually active life across sex and health groups in middle aged and older adults. Design Cross sectional study. Setting Two samples representative of the US population: MIDUS (the national survey of midlife development in the United States, 1995-6) and NSHAP (the national social life, health and ageing project, 2005-6). Participants 3032 adults aged 25 to 74 (1561 women, 1471 men) from the midlife cohort (MIDUS) and 3005 adults aged 57 to 85 (1550 women, 1455 men) from the later life cohort (NSHAP). Main outcome measures Sexual activity, quality of sexual life, interest in sex, and average remaining years of sexually active life, referred to as sexually active life expectancy. Results Overall, men were more likely than women to be sexually active, report a good quality sex life, and be interested in sex. These gender differences increased with age and were greatest among the 75 to 85 year old group: 38.9% of men compared with 16.8% of women were sexually active, 70.8% versus 50.9% of those who were sexually active had a good quality sex life, and 41.2% versus 11.4% were interested in sex. Men and women reporting very good or excellent health were more likely to be sexually active compared with their peers in poor or fair health: age adjusted odds ratio 2.2 (P<0.01) for men and 1.6 (P<0.05) for women in the midlife study and 4.6 (P<0.001) for men and 2.8 (P<0.001) for women in the later life study. Among sexually active people, good health was also significantly associated with frequent sex (once or more weekly) in men (adjusted odds ratio 1.6 to 2.1), with a good quality sex life among men and women in the midlife cohort (adjusted odds ratio 1.7), and with interest in sex. People in very good or excellent health were 1.5 to 1.8 times more likely to report an interest in sex than those in poorer health. At age 30, sexually active life expectancy was 34.7 years for men and 30.7 years for women compared with 14.9 to 15.3 years for men and 10. 6 years for women at age 55. This gender disparity attenuated for people with a spouse or other intimate partner. At age 55, men in very good or excellent health on average gained 5-7 years of sexually active life compared with their peers in poor or fair health. Women in very good or excellent health gained 3-6 years compared with women in poor or fair health. Conclusion Sexual activity, good quality sexual life, and interest in sex were higher for men than for women and this gender gap widened with age. Sexual activity, quality of sexual life, and interest in sex were positively associated with health in middle age and later life. Sexually active life expectancy was longer for men, but men lost more years of sexually active life as a result of poor health than women.

Sexuality and older people: a neglected issue

“…Similar gender gaps have been reported elsewhere, 4,12 including by Chirinda and Zungu in this issue who estimate sexually active life expectancy in a cohort of older men and women in South Africa. In this study, women reported a markedly shorter sexually active life expectancy than men at the age of 50, with HIV having a negative impact on sexual activity only among women.…”

Sexuality in Older Adults (65+)—An Overview of The Recent Literature, Part 2: Body Image and Sexual Satisfaction

“…Older adults who report good health are more likely to be sexually active, be sexually active for a longer duration (Lindau & Gavrilova, 2010), have more frequent sex, and experience higher sexual desire (Kontula & Haavio-Mannila, 2009). Similarly, being in a sexual partnership, -with frequent sexual expression, having a good quality sex life, and being interested in sex‖ (Syme, 2014, p. 36) has been positively associated with health among middle-aged and older adults.…”

Health Care Students’ Attitudes Towards Working with Sexual Health in Their Professional Roles: Survey of Students at Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Programmes

“…However, health care providers often lack education concerning sexological issues, and their attitudes towards working to promote sexual health can be challenged by their own believed non-importance of sexual health for persons with disease or disability (Esmail, Darry, Walter, & Knupp, 2010;Low & Zubir, 2000). Sexual health is strongly related to feelings of well-being and general health (Field et al, 2013;Lindau & Gavrilova, 2010;Ratner, Erekson, Minkin, & Foran-Tuller, 2011), and previous research has shown that rehabilitation can promote sexual health (Kristina Areskoug- Josefsson & Gard, 2015;K. Areskoug-Josefsson & Oberg, 2009;Egan et al, 2013;Josefsson & Gard, 2012;Rosenbaum, 2006).…”