Aging and Sexuality

Question 1

What is overall trajectory of sexuality in aging?

Answer 1

Both men and women undergo variety of physiological changes that affect sexuality and experience a gradual decline in sexual activity with degree of decline varying from individual to individual

Question 2

What is the best predictor of sexual activity later in life?

Answer 2

Sexual activity in earlier decades (best predictor of future behavior is past behavior)

Question 3

What differences did Masters & Johnson find between older and younger women?

Answer 3

No difference in sex drive and physiological differences in older women like less intense orgasms, thinner vaginal walls, and reduced sexual lubrication.

Question 4

What differences did Masters & Johnson find between older and younger men?

Answer 4

For older men, less spontaneous erections, more time to develop erections, and more difficult to maintain; also, longer refractory period than younger men

Question 5

Women report less sexual activity and interest than men at every age and this difference becomes more pronounced beginning at what age?

Answer 5

Mid to late 60’s

Question 6

What is highly related to sexual activity in later adulthood for women? Same question for men?

Answer 6

For women, marital status (availability of sexual partner; health status is strong predictor for men