Sexuality in Older Couples: Individual and Dyadic Characteristics

Abstract

Sexuality is a key component of health and functioning that changes with age. Although most sexual activity takes place with a partner, the majority of research on sexuality has focused on individuals. In this paper, we focus on the sexual dyad. We propose and test a conceptual model of the predictors of partnered sexual activity in older adulthood. This model begins with the personality of each of the partners, which affects individuals’ views of sex and characteristics of the partnership, both of which affect sexual expression in the couple. We measure a key feature of personality, Positivity, which reflects the individual’s tendency to present oneself positively in social situations. This trait, we posit, increases frequency of sex through increased desire for sex, and the subjective importance of sex to each member of the couple. In this model, Positivity also impacts characteristics of the relationship that promote dyadic sexual behavior. These processes may differ for men and women. We test this model with data from the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project, which conducted personal interviews with both partners in 940 American dyads. We find that couples in which the husbands’ (but not wives’) are high in Positivity show higher levels of sexual activity, and that this association is partially mediated by dimensions of relationship quality, but more so by individual factors such as thinking about sex and believing sex is important.

The dialogic educational pathway as a strategy of care with elderly women in sexuality

“…6 It is known that elderlies suffer the results of their biological aging, living with the natural loss of this phase, in addition to the prejudiced way about their affective relationship, loving and sexual, issued by society, including their own family. 20 This prejudice can contribute, in large part, to the extinction of the practice of sexuality in the Golden Age and to the attribution of ignorance on the subject.…”

“…Therefore, if elderlies attribute positive values to sexuality in their youth, they will certainly live their sexuality more intensely when they reach the Golden Age, a fact that is not common among older women. 20 Several factors play an important role with regard to sexuality in the Golden Age, such as people's life experiences, social level, schooling, religious and family formation. Appropriate educational interventions can help older women cope with the determinants that negatively affect their sex life, as well as broaden the concept in relation to the subject.…”

“…Appropriate educational interventions can help older women cope with the determinants that negatively affect their sex life, as well as broaden the concept in relation to the subject. 20 Based on the statements by elderly women, the limit situation emerged and the generative themes were listed and in their Education as a care of sexuality with elderly women Rodrigues DMMR, Labegalini CMG, Higarashi IH, Heidemann ITSB, Baldissera VDA possession the 'Expanded Concept of Sexuality' (Chart 1) was established as a programmatic content. This content was developed with the group dynamics educational strategy entitled: After all, what is sexuality?…”

Obesity and Sexuality Among Older Couples: Evidence From the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project

“…Questions include appraisals of the partner making "too many demands" and "getting on nerves." Presumably, some of the demands made by men pertain to sexual matters; this could lead to frequent and diverse forms of sexual expression, yet leave the women feeling burdened and in conflict (Waite et al, 2015). Prior literature indicates that older men report higher levels of sexual interest and desire sex more frequently, and initiate more sexual activities than women (Lindau et al, 2007;Lodge & Umberson, 2012).…”

“…We constructed five-level ordinal variable of sexual frequency within the dyad, "once a month or less"; "between once a month and 2 to 3 times a month"; "2 to 3 times a month"; "between 2, 3 times a month and 1, 2 times a week"; and "once a week or more" (see Table 1). As reflected by the categories "between once a month and 2 to 3 times a month" and "between 2, 3 times a month and 1, 2 times a week," inconsistent reports were treated as their own separate categories (Waite, Iveniuk, Laumann, & McClintock, 2015).…”