Relationship among sexual desire, sexual satisfaction, and quality of life in middle-aged and older adults

J Sex Marital Ther. 2011;37(5):386-403. doi: 10.1080/0092623X.2011.607051.

Abstract

The authors examined the association among sexual desire, sexual satisfaction, and quality of life in a sample of community participants. They predicted that quality of life would be positivity correlated with sexual satisfaction and that sexual desire would indirectly influence quality of life. This research showed that elderly adults' sexual desire and sexual satisfaction decrease with age and that nearly 40% of the interviewees still had sexual activity one or more times every month. The results revealed that sexual desire does not directly influence quality of life, but it does have a direct effect on sexual satisfaction; hence, sexual satisfaction will indirectly affect quality of life.

MeSH terms

  • Coitus / psychology*
  • Female
  • Heterosexuality / psychology*
  • Heterosexuality / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Life Style
  • Male
  • Marriage / psychology*
  • Marriage / statistics & numerical data
  • Middle Aged
  • Personal Satisfaction*
  • Quality of Life / psychology*
  • Sexual Partners / psychology
  • Social Environment
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Spouses / psychology*
  • Spouses / statistics & numerical data
  • Taiwan