Published in

SAGE Publications, Journal of Applied Gerontology, 6(41), p. 1615-1624, 2022

DOI: 10.1177/07334648221078852

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Enjoyment of Sexuality and Longevity in Late Midlife and Older Adults: The Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam

This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.
This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.

Full text: Unavailable

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Postprint: archiving allowed
Red circle
Published version: archiving forbidden
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Sexual well-being refers to the evaluation of one’s sexuality. We examined the association of enjoyment of sexuality with longevity and the moderating role of perceived importance of sexuality in this association. In the population-based Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam, the survival of initially 55–84-year-olds was followed during 27 years. Complete data were available for 1042 participants (45.3%). Analyses were adjusted for health-related and psychosocial covariates. 60% of the participants experienced their sexuality as enjoyable and 44% as important. Enjoyment of sexuality was weakly, positively associated with longevity (B[CI] = 0.29[-0.004;0.58]). Perceived importance modified this association: only in those who perceived sexuality as important, the association between enjoyment and longevity was statistically significant (B[CI] = 0.78[0.29;1.27]). Positive affect, functional limitations, emotional loneliness, self-rated health, sense of mastery and alcohol consumption accounted for 35% of the latter association. Interventions may target older adults who perceive sexuality as important but not enjoyable.