Skip Navigation

The Gerontologist 1997 37(1):6-14; doi:10.1093/geront/37.1.6
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Matthias, R. E.
Right arrow Articles by Schweitzer, S. O.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Matthias, R. E.
Right arrow Articles by Schweitzer, S. O.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© 1997 The Gerontological Society of America

Sexual Activity and Satisfaction Among Very Old Adults: Results From a Community-Dwelling Medicare Population Survey1

Ruth E. Matthias, PhD2, James E. Lubben, DSW, MPH3, Kathryn A. Atchison, DDS, MPH4 and Stuart O. Schweitzer, PhD4

3 University of California Los Angeles School of Dentistry
4 University of California, Los Angeles, School of Public Health


  Abstract

This article explores the relationship between sociopsychological factors, sexual activity, and sexual satisfaction in a sample of 1,216 elderly people (mean age = 77.3). Almost 30% hadparticipated in sexual activity in the past month and 67% were satisfied with current level of sexual activity. Men are more likely to be sexually active, but less apt than women to be satisfied with their level of sexual activity. Regarding predictors of sexual activity, for men the strongest predictors were being younger and having more education. For women, the strongest predictor by far was being married. For both men and women the strongest predictors for satisfaction were being sexually active and having positive mental health scores.In summary, the main variables predicting sexual activity were being married, having more education, being younger, being male, and having good social networks. The main predictors for satisfaction with sexual activity were, in addition to being sexually active, being female,having good mental health, and better functional status.

Keywords: Elderly, Sexual behavior, Survey research

Received November 15, 1994; Accepted December 13, 1995

1 A paper presenting this research was delivered on November 2,1994 at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.This study was part of a larger project funded by the Office of Research and Demonstrations, U.S. Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), #95-C-99165/9-01. The total (direct and indirect) costs of the six-year project,which ended April 30, 1994, were $1,932,000. Total reimbursements forMedicare-waivered services were $404,300. HCFA funded 100% of the total costs. Interpretations of the data are the authors' own and do not necessarily represent the official opinion of the Health Care Financing Authority.The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of Todd Franke, PhD, Fred De Jong, PhD, S. Allison Mayer-Oakes, MD, and Claudia DerMartirosian,MA.

2 University of California, Los Angeles, School of Public Policy and Social Research. Address correspondence to Ruth E. Matthias, PhD, UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research, 3250 Public Policy Building, Box 951656, Los Angeles, CA 90095.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Aging HealthHome page
J. DeLamater and S. M. Moorman
Sexual Behavior in Later Life
J Aging Health, December 1, 2007; 19(6): 921 - 945.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Research on AgingHome page
A. D. Bowd
Stereotypes of Elderly Persons in Narrative Jokes
Research on Aging, January 1, 2003; 25(1): 3 - 21.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.