psychosexual development (pt.4) Flashcards
literature shows that regular, consensual sexual expression contributes to physical and psyo well being
- may reduce phsyical and mental health problems associated with aging
- p-v correlated with;
- higher quality of intimate relationships
- lower rates of depressive symptoms
- improved cardio health
- slimmer waisr and hips in both men and women
national survey of sexual health and behaviour
- solo masturbation common;
- 46% of the oldest M (70+) and 33% of the oldest W (70+)
- clear indicator of the extent of continuing sexual expression
- M 50-59 slightly more likely to report giving/receiving oral sex (48%) with opposite-sex partner than W (44%);
- 19% and 24% M aged 70+ compared to 8% and 7% W 70+
- p-v: 58% M and 51% W aged 50-59;
- declined to 43% among M 70+ and to 22% among W 70+
finland and austraila
finland;
* W same age range: 1.8 (lack of partner a factor)
australia;
* M aged 75-79 = 40%
* M aged 80-84 = 27%
* M aged 85-89 = 19%
* M aged 90-95 = 11%
maintaining sexual activity will likely increase in importance as
- more people living longer
- living more yrs in better health
W, changes related to declining functioning of ovaries during climacteric are most noticeable
- gradual decline of estrogen (vaginal dryness and atrophy);
- aches and itching vulva/vagina, burning, and dyspareunia
- may lead to reduced frequency or cessation of sexual activity
- serious symptoms -> not common (brazil 20%, Italy 6%)
do W report sex more exciting and desireable after menopause?
- yes
change in M
- testosterone has a slow decline
- slower to get erect
- less firm erections
- decreased likelihood of orgasm
- longer refractory periods
age related changes in physical appearance
- stressful for those in ageist society
- especially problematic for W;
- mid life W who reported declining sexual desire and frequency of activity self reported as less physically attractive than 10 yrs earlier, regardless of age
some W’s interest in sex is pronatalism
- loss of ability to reproduce
- no longer any reason to engage in sexual activity
the primary reason for the difference in p-v found between older m and w is related to (physical attractiveness, menopause, w’s inherent disinterest in sex, the loss of their partner)
- the loss of their partner
diabetes and hypertension associated with sexual dysfunctions among older m and w (<12%)
- no evidence that medical illnesses major influence on declining sexual desire and behaviour or increasing sexual distress and dysfunction in later life
- moreover, improvements in health of a pop should increase rates of sexual activity in later life
mental health influences sexual funtioning
- increased anxiety -> lack of sexual interest in both m and w:
- increased an organsmia and lack of sexual pleasure w
- depression -> anorgansmia and erectile problems in m
meds taken by elders that impact sexual functioning
- anticoagulants
- meds to control cholesterol
- meds to control hypertension
are diagnosed illnesses and medication use related to the frequency of sexual activity
- no
- unrelated
w were more likely to rate sex as important than w were
- 59% m agreed or strongly agreed that “sexual activity is a critial part of a good relationship” compared to 35% of w
- “sexual activity is important to my overall quality of life”: 20% of m aggreed compared to 3% of W
AARP (1999 and 2010)
1999:
* 51% of respondents aged 45 endorsed “sex becomes less important to most people as they get older”
* as did 76% of those over age 65
2010:
* “sex becomes less important to people as they age”: 39% m and 37% w agreed/strongly agreed
* “sex is only for younger people”: only 2% m and 5% w agreed
married w and m
- USA w marry m 2.6 yrs older
- w live longer than m (~5-7 yrs)
- many older w widowed
- married m and w report more frequent partnered sexual activity than formerly married or single persons, particularly at older ages
- most sig contributor to decline among w (being widowed)
- frequency of sexual activity highest among currently married, intermediate among never married/divorced and lowest among widowed persons (m and w)
divorced persons
- 33% divorced persons between 45 and 65 dating
- compared to only 10% divorced persons over age 65
- poor adjustment to the divorce greatly reduces chances of forming new romantic relationships
- 87% m and 79% w dated after the divorce
- 54% m who dated and 39% w who dated, remarried
- white m over 60 marry w 9 yrs younger
- black m over 60 marry w 12 yrs younger
- relationship/marital status perhaps the major influence on the frequency of heterosexual sexual activity in later life
sexual behaviour and committed partner relationship
- strongly related to satisfaction
- 60% m and w between 45-59 were satisfied with physical relationship
- declining to 35% of m and w over age 75
- satisfaction sig associated with frequency of partnered sexual activity
- greater satisfaction associated with more frequency hugging and kissing, oral sex, and vaginal intercourse
- low sexual frequency sig associated with dissolution
sexual desire
- sharply declines with age with some variation across studies
- 76.5% m 45-59 reported desire a few times/week, declining to 43% among m 60-74 and 17% among m over age 75
- for w, comparable % were 36%, 11%, and 4%
- w much less likely to report frequent sexual desire than m (but other variables, such as partnered status and health/stress, are influential)
sexual research on sexual dysfunction
- much research done on older pops
- some evidence that difficulties with arousal and erection increase with age
- not clear to what degree these lead to cessation of partnered sexual activity
- little evidence that organsmic disorder increases with age among w
- there are problems associated with lube that are age related
% of sexual dysfunction
- 49% of those 45-65 had sought treatment from medical professional for sexual functioning problems
- 12% of those aged 45-65 and 14% of those aged 66+ taking medication/receiving treatment for sexual problem
autralian study on sexual dysfunction
- m and w 40-80: only 22% who reported at least 1 sexual difficulty had sought help
- m experienced erectile difficulties and w experienced lube problems more likely to seek medical help
- attitudes were also important
- m and w who believed sex very or extermely important pt of life more likely to have sought help
there are men and women who remain sexually active into their 80s (true or false)
- true
