Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.
J Sex Med. 2014 Feb;11(2):401-10. doi: 10.1111/jsm.12381. Epub 2013 Nov 20.
Knowledge about determinants of sexual activity in older adults in the general population is limited. Human senescence has been delayed by a decade, and people are reaching old age in better health.
The aim of this study was to investigate determinants of sexual activity in four birth cohorts of non-demented 70-year-olds examined in 1971-1977 and 1992-2001.
The main outcome measure was sexual activity (defined as intercourse) during the past year.
The study is based on cross-sectional data from four population samples of 70-year-olds from Gothenburg, Sweden (N = 1,407) systematically sampled from the Swedish population register.
In the time periods 1971-1972 and 2000-2001, sexual activity among men increased from 47% to 66%, and in women from 12% to 34%. Sexual activity was related to positive attitude toward sexuality, sexual debut before age 20, having a very happy relationship, having a physically and mentally healthy partner, self-reported good global health, interviewer-rated good mental health, being married/cohabiting, satisfaction with sleep, and drinking alcohol more than three times a week. Having an older partner, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, higher physical health-sum score, and depression were related to less sexual activity. Interaction effects for birth cohort, with stronger positive associations in 1971-1972, were found for positive attitude toward sexuality, strong desire at age 20-30, premarital sexuality, having a younger partner, self-reported good global health, interviewer-rated good global mental health, overweight, and satisfaction with sleep. Having an older partner and depression showed stronger negative associations in the 1970s. Physical health-sum score showed a stronger negative association in 1992-2001.
We found that determinants of sexual activity in older people are numerous and varied, and change over time. It is thus important that health professionals and others take a holistic approach when dealing with sexual problems in older adults. Sexual aging should be part of health care and medical education. Clinicians should be trained to ask older patients about sexual concerns.
人们对普通人群中老年性行为的决定因素知之甚少。人类衰老已经延缓了十年，人们在更健康的状态下进入老年。
本研究旨在调查 1971-1977 年和 1992-2001 年检查的四个非痴呆 70 岁队列中性行为的决定因素。
主要观察指标为过去一年的性行为（定义为性交）。
该研究基于来自瑞典哥德堡的四个 70 岁人群样本的横断面数据，这些样本是从瑞典人口登记处系统抽取的。
在 1971-1972 年和 2000-2001 年期间，男性的性行为从 47%增加到 66%，女性从 12%增加到 34%。性行为与对性行为的积极态度、20 岁之前的性初次体验、非常幸福的关系、有身心健康的伴侣、自我报告的整体健康状况良好、经采访者评估的心理健康状况良好、已婚/同居、对睡眠满意以及每周饮酒超过三次有关。伴侣年龄较大、糖尿病、冠心病、较高的身体健康总分和抑郁与较少的性行为有关。对于出生队列的交互效应，在 1971-1972 年期间，与对性行为的积极态度、20-30 岁时的强烈欲望、婚前性行为、有较年轻的伴侣、自我报告的整体健康状况良好、经采访者评估的整体心理健康状况良好、超重和对睡眠的满意度相关的关联更强。在 20 世纪 70 年代，伴侣年龄较大和抑郁与负面关联更强。在 1992-2001 年期间，身体健康总分与负面关联更强。
我们发现，老年人性行为的决定因素众多且多样，并随时间而变化。因此，健康专业人员和其他人在处理老年人的性问题时应采取整体方法。性衰老应成为保健和医学教育的一部分。临床医生应接受培训，询问老年患者有关性问题的关注。
