Attitudes about sexuality and aging
| January 1, 2007
Attitudes about sexuality and aging
The oldest members of the baby boom generation were in their 20s during the heyday of the 1960s sexual revolution, fostered in part by the advent of the birth control pill. During that time, sexual attitudes and practices shifted dramatically. Now these boomers are once again transforming the sexual landscape, challenging views on sexuality and aging. As a result, the once widespread myths that people in their 60s and beyond shouldn't, can't, and wouldn't want to have sex are fading away.
There is greater recognition now that many older adults are physically and mentally vital. This has inspired the saying "60 is the new 40." Examples of vigorous older adults are easy to find. Former president George H.W. Bush went skydiving to celebrate his 80th birthday, and John Glenn returned to space at age 77. It makes sense that this trend toward later-life vitality reaches into the bedroom, too.
Middle-aged and older adults no longer accept such myths as "Sex is only for young people" and "Sex isn't important to older adults." A study, "Sexuality at Midlife and Beyond," conducted by AARP, illustrates this. These are some of the findings:
Five out of six of the respondents disagreed with the statement that "Sex is only for younger people."
Six out of 10 people stated that sexual activity was a crucial part of a good relationship.
Only 10% of adults reported that they don't particularly enjoy sex, and just 12% agreed that they would be quite happy never having sex again.
The 2004 AARP study is a follow-up to a study that was conducted five years earlier. The 2004 poll of 1,682 men and women turned up some interesting changes in sexual attitudes and behaviors. One of the most significant is the growing number of adults seeking information about sexuality and treatment for sexual problems. In 1999, half of the respondents had sought information about sex; in 2004, that number rose to 62%.
Over all, the number of people seeking help for a sex problem crept up from 14% to 18%, but the jump was more significant for men alone. The proportion of men who said they have tried medications and other treatments to improve sexual functioning more than doubled, going from 10% to 22%. Viagra was by far the most commonly used treatment; in fact, the percentage of people who've tried Viagra nearly matched that of all the other treatments (such as hormone injections, pills and patches, herbs, Levitra, Cialis, and vacuum pumps or other devices) combined.
Many of those who tried medication or other treatments for sexual problems reported that the therapies increased their enjoyment or satisfaction with sex. Their partners agreed. Over all, 68% of men and 55% of women who sought treatment reported greater sexual satisfaction. Among those whose partners used a drug or other treatment for sexual problems, 56% of the women and 64% of the men reported that they enjoyed sex more as a result.
The AARP survey examined a variety of other sexual attitudes and behaviors, from the frequency of sexual activity to factors affecting sexual satisfaction. For more on these findings, see "By the numbers: Statistics on sexuality and sexual satisfaction."
By the numbers: Statistics on sexuality and sexual satisfactionIn 2004, AARP polled 1,682 adults ages 45 and older about the role sex played in their lives. The findings paint a detailed picture of sexuality at midlife and later. The importance of sex Over all, two-thirds of the men (66%) and about half of the women (48%) responding felt that a satisfying sex life was important to their quality of life. An even higher percentage (90% of men and 85% of women) said that a good relationship with their spouse or partner played a key role in their happiness. Frequency of sexual activity Of individuals with partners, 49% reported having intercourse once a week or more in the past six months. About 59% of men and 54% of women in the youngest age bracket surveyed (45–49) had intercourse at least once a week. Over age 70, the number dropped to 34%. Some other sexual activities were more prevalent among those with partners: 88% kissed or hugged at least once a week, while 72% engaged in sexual touching or caressing that frequently. As expected, the numbers were lower for study participants as a group (see table below), since a portion of them did not have partners. Men tended to think about sex and feel sexual desire more frequently than women. While rates of intercourse were similar for both sexes, more men than women reported engaging in sexual touching. Self-stimulation on a regular basis was also about four times higher among men. Factors affecting sexual satisfaction Not surprisingly, one of the major factors associated with respondents' satisfaction was the availability of a partner. In the 45–49 age group, roughly four out of five individuals had partners; by comparison, only one-third of women over 70 had a partner. Declining health also appeared to have an effect on sexual activity and satisfaction. On a list of features that might improve their sexual satisfaction, respondents ranked better health for themselves or their partners at the top. |
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Other statistics from the survey |
Men |
Women |
A good relationship with a spouse or partner is important to quality of life. |
90% |
85% |
My partner is physically attractive. |
58% |
52% |
A satisfying sexual relationship is important to my overall quality of life. |
66% |
48% |
Sexual activity is a pleasurable but not a necessary part of a good relationship. |
45% |
51% |
Had sexual intercourse at least once a week during the past six months. |
41% |
31% |
Engaged in kissing or hugging at least once a week during the past six months. |
76% |
62% |
Am satisfied with my sex life. |
52% |
49% |
Better health for me would improve my sex life. |
31% |
19% |
Better health for my partner would improve my sex life. |
23% |
20% |
Have taken medication or used other treatments to improve sexual functioning. |
22% |
7% |
Sex becomes less important to people as they age. |
42% |
42% |
Review Date: 2007-01-01
Harvard Medical School does not endorse products or services.
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