Cited by 278Sexual function and dysfunction studiesAging and Gerontology ResearchMarriage and Sexual Relationships

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Sexuality: Measures of Partnerships, Practices, Attitudes, and Problems in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Study

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Waite, L. J., Laumann, E. O., Das, A., Schumm, L. P.·2009·The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences

DOI 10.1093/geronb/gbp038PMC PMC2763521

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Abstract

Objectives The National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) was designed to examine the relationship between sexual behavior, sexual problems, and health among older women and men. We describe measures of sexual partnerships, sexual practices, sexual problems, attitudes toward sex, and nonsexual intimacy in the first wave of NSHAP. Methods We compare measures of sexuality for those 57-85 years old, by age, separately for men and women. We construct scales of sexual mores, sexual interest, and relationship satisfaction and discuss properties of each scale. Results Sexuality among older adults tends to vary with age and gender. At all ages in this study, men are more likely than women to have a partner, more likely to be sexually active with that partner, and tend to have more positive and permissive attitudes toward sex. The proportions in a sexual partnership, behavior, problems, and attitudes all differ substantially by age. And these age patterns often differ for men and women. Discussion Data obtained in the NSHAP can be used to construct key measures of sexuality among older adults; to examine sexuality itself; and to explore the link between sexuality, health, well-being, and other dimensions of the lives of older adults.

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Result
Physicians' response to sexual dysfunction presented by a younger vs. An older adult
Gewirtz‐Meydan, A., & Ayalon, L. (2016) · International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/gps.4638 · Cited by 53
Same-Sex Sexual Relationships in the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project: Making a Case for Data Collection
Brown, M., & Grossman, B. (2014) · Journal of gerontological social work · doi:10.1080/01634372.2013.865695 · Cited by 29
“Respondents are able to acknowledge any history of same-sex sexual behavior over the course of their life (Waite et al., 2009), rather than limiting them to identifying only current, cohabitating same-sex relationships.”
BackgroundResult
Are older adults satisfied with their sexuality? Outcomes from a cross-cultural study
von Humboldt, S., Low, G., & Leal, I. (2020) · Educational Gerontology · doi:10.1080/03601277.2020.1744805 · Cited by 28
“Sexual activities in old age include a variety of behaviors, such as oral, anal, and vaginal sex, masturbation, and foreplay (e.g., kissing, caressing) as the most often reported activities in older samples (Schick et al., 2010; Waite et al., 2009).”
Background
Sexual Satisfaction Among Older Australian Heterosexual Men and Women: Findings from the Sex, Age & Me Study
Heywood, W., Lyons, A., Fileborn, B., Hinchliff, S., Minichiello, V., Malta, S., Barrett, C., & Dow, B. (2017) · Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy · doi:10.1080/0092623x.2017.1366959 · Cited by 30
Sexuality in the Older Adult.
Morton, L. (2017) · Primary Care · doi:10.1016/j.pop.2017.04.004 · Cited by 27
Sexual Health Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Older Adults: An Exploratory Analysis
Brennan-Ing, M., Kaufman, J., Larson, B., Gamarel, K., Seidel, L., & Karpiak, S. (2020) · Clinical Gerontologist · doi:10.1080/07317115.2020.1846103 · Cited by 26
“Details on recruitment and data collection procedures have been reported elsewhere (Lindau et al., 2007; Waite et al., 2009).”
Method
Attitudes toward online sexual activities
Byers, E. S., & Shaughnessy, K. (2014) · Cyberpsychology Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace · doi:10.5817/cp2014-1-10 · Cited by 27
Meaning of Sexual Performance Among Men With and Without Erectile Dysfunction
Thompson, E., & Barnes, K. (2013) · Psychology of Men & Masculinity · doi:10.1037/a0029104 · Cited by 25
Sexual dysfunction and mental health in patients with multiple sclerosis and epilepsy
Petersen, M., Kristensen, E., Giraldi, L., & Giraldi, A. G. E. (2020) · BMC Neurology · doi:10.1186/s12883-020-1625-7 · Cited by 26
Improvement of Older Women's Sexuality Through Emancipatory Education
Baldissera, V., Bueno, S. M., & Hoga, L. (2012) · Health Care for Women International · doi:10.1080/07399332.2012.684986 · Cited by 24
Relationship between Solitary Masturbation and Sexual Satisfaction: A Systematic Review
Cervilla, Ó., Álvarez-Muelas, A., & Sierra, J. C. (2024) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare12020235 · Cited by 30
Kissing, Cuddling, and Massage at Most Recent Sexual Event: Findings From a U.S. Nationally Representative Probability Sample
Herbenick, D., Fu, T., Owens, C., Bartelt, E., Dodge, B., Reece, M., & Fortenberry, J. (2019) · Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy · doi:10.1080/0092623x.2018.1494648 · Cited by 22
Sociodemographic Correlates of Sexlessness Among American Adults and Associations with Self-Reported Happiness Levels: Evidence from the U.S. General Social Survey
Kim, J. H., Tam, W., & Muennig, P. A. (2017) · Archives of Sexual Behavior · doi:10.1007/s10508-017-0968-7 · Cited by 40
Masturbation in middle and late adulthood: its relationship to orgasm
Sierra, J. C., Santamaría, J., Cervilla, Ó., & Álvarez-Muelas, A. (2022) · International journal of impotence research · doi:10.1038/s41443-021-00520-w · Cited by 20
“The masturbation frequency results agreed with those reported in different research works, which confirm that men practice masturbation more frequently than women, even at older ages [6, 7, 9, 10, 35, 36].”
Result
The Sexuality and Sexual Health of LGBT Elders
Hillman, J. L. (2017) · Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics · doi:10.1891/0198-8794.37.13 · Cited by 20
“Unfortunately, most of the current large-scale, national surveys of sexual activity (e.g., the NSHAP; Waite et al., 2009) fail to gather information about anal sex.”
BackgroundInfluential
Middle-aged female sexual dysfunction and multimorbidity: a population-based study
Valadares, A., Lui-Filho, J., Costa-Paiva, L., & Pinto-Neto, A. (2016) · Menopause · doi:10.1097/gme.0000000000000533 · Cited by 20
Longitudinal Trends in Sexual Behaviors with Advancing Age and Menopause Among Women With and Without HIV-1 Infection
Taylor, T., Weedon, J., Golub, E. T., Karpiak, S. E., Gandhi, M., Cohen, M. H., Levine, A. M., MINKOFF, H. L., Adedimeji, A., Goparaju, L., et al. (2014) · AIDS and Behavior · doi:10.1007/s10461-014-0901-1 · Cited by 18
The psychosocial sources of sexual interest in older couples
Iveniuk, J., & Waite, L. J. (2018) · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · doi:10.1177/0265407517754148 · Cited by 28
Self-citation
Erectile dysfunction and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor use: associations with sexual activities, function and satisfaction in a population sample of older men
Lee, D., Nazroo, J., & Pendleton, N. (2015) · International journal of impotence research · doi:10.1038/ijir.2015.4 · Cited by 19
Marital Quality and Older Men's and Women's Comfort Discussing Sexual Issues With a Doctor
Adams, S. A. (2013) · Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy · doi:10.1080/0092623x.2012.691951 · Cited by 20
“Indeed, marriage provides most older adults with a stable social and emotional context for sexual relations (Waite, Laumann, Das, & Schumm, 2009 ).”
Background
Promoting a discussion on later life sexuality: Lessons from sexologist physicians
Gewirtz-Meydan, A., Levkovich, I., Mock, M., Gur, U., & Ayalon, L. (2019) · Sexual & Relationship Therapy · doi:10.1080/14681994.2018.1437258 · Cited by 17
Sanctified Sexual Relationships in Marriage: Reflections from Religious Wives and Husbands
Leavitt, C. E., Allsop, D. B., Clarke, R. W., Marks, L. D., & Dollahite, D. C. (2021) · Review of Religious Research · doi:10.1007/s13644-020-00440-z · Cited by 15
Social Modulation or Hormonal Causation? Linkages of Testosterone with Sexual Activity and Relationship Quality in a Nationally Representative Longitudinal Sample of Older Adults
Das, A., & Sawin, N. (2016) · Archives of Sexual Behavior · doi:10.1007/s10508-016-0815-2 · Cited by 15
“Data on sexual problems were collected in NSHAP through dichotomous response items,eachaskingtheparticipantabout thepresenceofa sexual problem for‘‘several months or more’’over the preceding 12 months (Laumann, Das, & Waite, 2008; Waite et al., 2009).”
MethodSelf-citation
Sexual Activity and Satisfaction in Older Adult Dyads: The Role of Perceptions of Aging
Skoblow, H., Drewelies, J., & Proulx, C. M. (2022) · The Gerontologist · doi:10.1093/geront/gnac099 · Cited by 16
“Most adults over the age of 50 who are in a committed relationship are sexually active, and many remain sexually active into their oldest years (DeLamater, 2012; Kolodziejczak et al., 2019; Waite et al., 2009).”
Background
Sexuality in aging.
Schwartz, P., Diefendorf, S., & McGlynn-Wright, A. (2013) · American Psychological Association eBooks · doi:10.1037/14193-017 · Cited by 23
Using online methods to interview older adults about their romantic and sexual relationships
Malta, S. (2012) · Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks · doi:10.1057/9781137271372_9 · Cited by 15
Perspectives from Highly Religious Families on Boundaries and Rules About Sex
Allsop, D., Leavitt, C. E., Clarke, R. W., Driggs, S. M., Gurr, J. B., Marks, L., & Dollahite, D. (2021) · Journal of religion and health · doi:10.1007/s10943-020-01171-9 · Cited by 14
Sexual Satisfaction in Older Heterosexual Couples From Four European Countries: Exploring the Roles of Actual and Perceived Discrepancy in Sexual Interest
Fischer, N., Štulhofer, A., Hald, G. M., Carvalheira, A. A., & Træen, B. (2020) · The Journal of Sex Research · doi:10.1080/00224499.2020.1809615 · Cited by 14
“Loss of sexual desire appear to be especially prevalent among older women (Lindau & Gavrilova, 2010; Waite et al., 2009).”
Background
Sexual Well-Being in Older Women: The Relevance of Sexual Excitation and Sexual Inhibition
Bell, S., & Reissing, E. D. (2016) · The Journal of Sex Research · doi:10.1080/00224499.2016.1250147 · Cited by 14
Gender Differences in Marital Status Moderation of Genetic and Environmental Influences on Subjective Health
Finkel, D., Franz, C., Horwitz, B. N., Christensen, K., Gatz, M., Johnson, W., Kaprio, J., Korhonen, T., Niederheiser, J., Petersen, I., et al. (2015) · Behavior Genetics · doi:10.1007/s10519-015-9758-y · Cited by 14
“50—women are less likely to remarry after divorce or bereavement (Waite et al. 2009); thus marital status during”
Family Formation Processes: Assessing the Need for a New Nationally Representative Household Panel Survey in the United States
Manning, W. D. (2015) · Journal of Economic and Social Measurement · doi:10.3233/jem-150419 · Cited by 14
“Research relying on the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project (NSHAP) have provided opportunities to assess relationships among older Americans with about 14% of single older Americans are in a dating relationship [15] and older Americans remaining sexual active [102].”
Sexual behaviors
Rokach, A., & Patel, K. (2021) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-819174-3.00012-7
British Columbia CARMA-CHIWOS Collaboration (BCC3): protocol for a community-collaborative cohort study examining healthy ageing with and for women living with HIV
Swann, S. A., Kaida, A., Nicholson, V., Brophy, J. C., Campbell, A. R., Carter, A., Elwood, C. N., Gebremedhen, T., Gormley, R., King, E. M., et al. (2021) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046558 · Cited by 16
Correlates and aetiological factors associated with hedonic well-being among an ageing population of US men and women: secondary data analysis of a national survey
Odlum, M. L., Davis, N., Owens, O. L., Preston, M. A., Brewer, R., & Black, D. (2018) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020962 · Cited by 11
“MethODs Participants The second wave of the NSHAP survey, a national sample of US adults ages 57–85, was used in our analysis, was conducted from 2010 to 2011.(12) The survey focused on exploring interpersonal connections and overall health outcomes as they relate to: culture, gender and socioeconomic status; health b…”
Method
The benefits (and costs) of sexual responsiveness in romantic relationships.
Muise, A., Kovacevic, K., Shoikhedbrod, A., & Uppot, A. (2023) · Current Opinion in Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101644 · Cited by 12
Single women’s sexualities across the life course: The role of major events, transitions, and turning points
Miller, L. R. (2020) · Sexualities · doi:10.1177/1363460720922754 · Cited by 16
“Quantitative researchers also document age-related patterns in sexual attitudes and behaviors (Das et al., 2012; Waite et al., 2009).”
Background
Physical Intimacy in Older Couples’ Everyday Lives: Its Frequency and Links With Affect and Salivary Cortisol
Kołodziejczak, K., Drewelies, J., Pauly, T., Ram, N., Hoppmann, C. A., & Gerstorf, D. (2022) · The Journals of Gerontology Series B · doi:10.1093/geronb/gbac037 · Cited by 15

Authors: Waite, L. J., Laumann, E. O., Das, A., & Schumm, L. P.
Affiliations: University of Chicago (US)
ORCID: Waite, L. J.
Das, A.
Schumm, L. P.
Venue: The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published: 2009-06-04
Volume: 64B
Issue: Supplement 1
Pages: i56-i66
ISSN: 1079-5014 (ISSN-L)
1758-5368
DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbp038
PMC: PMC2763521
OpenAlex: W2159010740
Cited by: 278
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 8 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 16
FWCI: 6.58
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Locations: The Journals of Gerontology Series B (publishedVersion)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Funders: National Institute on Aging (P30AG012857, R01AG033903, R37AG030481, R01AG021487)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Sexual function and dysfunction studies
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Marriage and Sexual Relationships
Keywords: sexuality, older adults, sexual partnerships, sexual practices, sexual dysfunction, sexual attitudes, sexual mores, sexual interest, relationship satisfaction, gender differences, age differences, scale development
MeSH terms: Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Attitude, Cross-Sectional Studies, Data Interpretation, Statistical, Female, Health Status, Health Surveys, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Sexual Behavior, Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological, Sexual Partners, Social Behavior, Social Change, Social Values, United States

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Sexuality: Measures of Partnerships, Practices, Attitudes, and Problems in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Study

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