Factors Associated with Four Sexual Behaviors among Married/Partnered Women Ages 60 and Older in the United States
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LIFE Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
2
Center for Population Health and Aging, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
3
College of Public Service, University of Houston-Downtown, Houston, TX 77002, USA
4
Department of Physical Therapy, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA
5
Department of Biology, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA
6
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sexes 2021, 2(4), 445-451; https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes2040035
Received: 3 September 2021
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Revised: 14 October 2021
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Accepted: 15 October 2021
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Published: 18 October 2021
Women ages 60 and older vary in sexual behaviors. This study examined the prevalence of vaginal intercourse, outercourse, and receipt and performance of oral sex reported among 461 married/partnered women age ≥ 60 years in the United States and factors associated with these four sexual behaviors. Using data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, associations between participants’ socio-demographics, health indicators, sexual perceptions, communication, and sexual behaviors were examined. In the past year, 53.6% reported having vaginal intercourse, 56.0% outercourse, and 21.7% receiving and 20.6% performing oral sex. Women with depressive symptomology were less likely to report intercourse and outercourse (p < 0.05). Women endorsing pleasurable sex as necessary to maintain relationships were more likely to report all four behaviors (p < 0.01). Women who communicated openly with partners were more likely to report intercourse (p = 0.002), outercourse (p = 0.001), and performing oral sex (p = 0.025). Findings may inform strategies about positive sex perceptions and strengthening partner communication.
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Keywords:
sexual health; older women; communication
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MDPI and ACS Style
Bergeron, C.D.; Goltz, H.H.; Boolani, A.; Smith, M.L. Factors Associated with Four Sexual Behaviors among Married/Partnered Women Ages 60 and Older in the United States. Sexes 2021, 2, 445-451. https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes2040035
AMA Style
Bergeron CD, Goltz HH, Boolani A, Smith ML. Factors Associated with Four Sexual Behaviors among Married/Partnered Women Ages 60 and Older in the United States. Sexes. 2021; 2(4):445-451. https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes2040035
Chicago/Turabian StyleBergeron, Caroline D., Heather H. Goltz, Ali Boolani, and Matthew Lee Smith. 2021. "Factors Associated with Four Sexual Behaviors among Married/Partnered Women Ages 60 and Older in the United States" Sexes 2, no. 4: 445-451. https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes2040035
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