title: The impact of aging on human sexual activity and sexual desire.
abstract: This article empirically studies how much aging modifies human sexual activity and sexual desire, and what the most important determinants in this change are. The analyses are based on 2 representative national sex surveys conducted in Finland in the 1990s. As a result of female widowhood, aging men had a higher incidence of sexual intercourse compared with aging women; and in relationships, women were more likely than men to report lack of sexual desire. In regression analysis, age was a predictor of sexual activity but not of sexual desire, when controlling for the impact of other factors. Relationship duration did not play an important role in sexual activity or sexual desire when controlling for a number of other variables. Sexual desire, valuing sexuality, and a healthy partner were important to female sexual activity; and high sexual self-esteem, good health, and active sexual history were important to male sexual activity. To keep up their sexual desire, both men and women needed good health, good sexual functioning, positive sexual self-esteem, and a sexually skilful partner.
authors.affiliation: Population Research Institute, Helsinki, Finland. osmo.kontula@vaestoliitto.fi
authors.forename: Osmo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kontula
authors.forename: Elina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haavio-Mannila
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001143:Arousal; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological; D017805:Widowhood / Q000523:psychology