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. 2022 Jun;41(6):1615-1624.
doi: 10.1177/07334648221078852. Epub 2022 Mar 24.

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

Shanice Beerepoot  1 , Suzanne W M Luesken  1 , Martijn Huisman  1   2 , Dorly J H Deeg  1
Affiliations

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

Shanice Beerepoot et al. J Appl Gerontol. 2022 Jun.

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.

Keywords: enjoyment of sexuality; longevity; older population; perceived importance of sexuality.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Remaining life expectancy by enjoyment of sexuality for men aged 65 years in 1992-1993, distinguishing men who perceived sexuality as unimportant (left) and important (right).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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