Sexual satisfaction of middle-aged and older adults: longitudinal findings from a nationally representative sample

• Published in: Age and ageing Vol. 50; no. 2; pp. 559 - 564
• Main Authors: Buczak-Stec, Elżbieta, König, Hans-Helmut, Hajek, André
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.03.2021; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Cognitive ability; Cognitive functioning; Cohort analysis; Functional impairment; Germany - epidemiology; Health status; Humans; Intimacy; Loneliness; Longitudinal Studies; Mental depression; Middle age; Middle Aged; Older people; Orgasm; Personal Satisfaction; Self evaluation; Sexual Behavior; Sexual satisfaction; Sexuality; Sociodemographics; Surveys and Questionnaires; Variables; Germany; satisfaction with sex life; middle age; cohort study; sexual satisfaction; sexual dissatisfaction; older age; longitudinal study; sexual activity
• ISSN: 0002-0729; 1468-2834; 1468-2834
• DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afaa161

Abstract Background whilst previous studies have investigated the determinants of sexual satisfaction (i) using longitudinal data or (ii) among older adults, only a few studies have done both at the sametime. Objective the purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of sexual satisfaction longitudinally among middle-aged and older adults. Design nationally representative longitudinal study (German Ageing Survey—DEAS). Setting community-dwelling individuals in Germany. Data drawn from three waves (2002, 2008, 2011). Subjects individuals aged 40–95 (36.9% age group 65+). At wave 2 in the year 2002, n = 3,843 individuals took part. Methods well-established and widely used scales were used to quantify the independent variables. We included variables such as sociodemographic factors, self-rated health, physical functioning, depression and loneliness in our analysis. Sexual satisfaction was our outcome measure. Results were stratified by age (40–64, 65+). To take into account the multilevel data structure, we used random coefficient models. Results random-effects regressions showed that increased sexual satisfaction was consistently associated with the following variables in both age groups: lower number of physical illnesses, β = −0.03, P < 0.001 (betas coefficients given for individuals 65 years and over); better self-rated health, β = −0.06, P < 0.001; absence of depression, β = −0.16, P < 0.01; and higher importance of sexuality and intimacy, β = 0.08, P < 0.001. Moreover, sexual satisfaction was associated with having a partner: β = 0.16, P < 0.001; living with a partner in the same household, β = 0.26, P < 0.001; and a lower score of loneliness, β = −.28, P < 0.001. In contrast, sexual satisfaction was, for example, not associated with cognitive functioning. Conclusions the most surprising findings were that among both middle-aged and older adults, almost the same determinants (with exception of sociodemographic factors) were associated with satisfaction with sexlife.