The Role of Religion in Shaping Sexual Frequency and Satisfaction: Evidence from Married and Unmarried Older Adults

Abstract

This study assesses the role of religion in influencing sexual frequency and satisfaction among older married adults and sexual activity among older unmarried adults. We propose and test several hypotheses about the relationship between religion and sex among these two groups of older Americans, using nationally representative data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP). Results suggest that among married older adults, religion is largely unrelated with sexual frequency and satisfaction, although religious integration in daily life shares a weak but positive association with pleasure from sex. For unmarried adults, such religious integration exhibits a negative association with having had sex in the last year among women but not men.

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

“…However, some studies, have failed to replicate these finding, pointing to the importance of studying both biological and sociocultural mechanisms underlying the negative association between age and sexual satisfaction (Neto & Pinto, 2012;Thompson et al, 2011). Another consistent finding is that aging men report higher ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 15 levels of sexual satisfaction and sexual well-being than aging women (Kim & Jeon, 2013;Laumann et al, 2006;McFarland et al, 2011;Traeen & Schaller, 2010).…”

“…Several cross-cultural studies have found that sexual satisfaction and overall sexual wellbeing diminish with age (Chao et al, 2011;del Mar Sánchez-Fuentes & Sierra, 2014;Dijkstra & Barelds, 2011;Field et al, 2013;Graf & Patrick, 2014;McFarland, Uecker, & Regnerus, 2011;Schick et al, 2010;Traeen & Schaller, 2010). However, some studies, have failed to replicate these finding, pointing to the importance of studying both biological and sociocultural mechanisms underlying the negative association between age and sexual satisfaction (Neto & Pinto, 2012;Thompson et al, 2011).…”

“…19 lack of interest in sex (DeLamater et al, 2008), and relationship or marital quality (DeLamater et al, 2008;Dundon & Rellini, 2010;Kim & Jeon, 2013), including spousal support (McFarland et al, 2011). In the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (DeLamater et al, 2008), satisfaction with one's relationship or marriage was the strongest predictor of participants' satisfaction with their sexual relationship.…”

“…As mentioned earlier, gender has consistently been found to significantly predict sexual satisfaction levels (del Mar Sánchez-Fuentes & Sierra, 2014;McFarland et al, 2011;Syme, Klonoff, Macera, & Brodine, 2013), and age (Dijkstra & Barelds, 2011;McCallHosenfeld et al, 2008;Traeen & Schaller, 2010). Although it appears that the negative association between age and sexual satisfaction, which is usually small in size, is not linear (del Mar Sánchez-Fuentes & Sierra, 2014; Thompson et al, 2011), more research is needed to better understand the dynamics of sexual satisfaction in older individuals and couples.…”

“…There is surprisingly little evidence about the relationship between religiosity and sexual satisfaction in older age (McFarland et al, 2011). Given the importance attached to sexuality in religious teachings, which often place a strong emphasis on the procreative purpose of sex, such lack of attention to this specific type of social norms should be rectified.…”