title: Unconventional sexual relationships: data about German women ages 50 to 91 years.
abstract: For older women there is a shortage of single male partners in the same age group. This study investigates the extent of relevant alternative sexual options. 91 German women aged 50 to 91 years (birth cohorts: 1895-1936) were interviewed about their attitudes to and experiences with unconventional sexual relationships (cumulative incidence figures are given in parentheses): At the time of interview 4% (18%) of the interviewees had a relationship with a man younger than themselves and 1% (4%) had a lesbian relationship. Of those living as singles, 8% were having an affair with a married man (21% had one while living as a single). Although relationships with married men occurred most often, attitudes towards relationships with married men were mostly negative. Feelings about relationships with younger men and other women were ambivalent.
authors.affiliation: Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Klinik für Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: von Sydow
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012925:Social Conformity; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*