: Sexual health is an important component of overall health and well-being for older adults. Despite this, little is known about the importance of sex to quality of life, as part of romantic relationships for older adults, and potential drivers of interactions between healthcare providers and older adults about sexual health. In this study using a nationally representative population, we describe perceptions and experiences of sex among older adults.: A nationally representative, cross-sectional sample of community-dwelling U.S. adults aged 65-80 was surveyed about their sexual health and interaction with their health care providers about sexual health.: The survey completion rate was 75% (N = 1,002). Overall, 50.9% of men and 30.8% of women reported being sexually active. In all, 17.3% of adults aged 65-80 reported speaking to their health care provider about sexual health in the past two years and of those, 60.5% of patients initiated the conversation. Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that sexual activity (yes/no), interest in sex, and satisfaction with sex life are major drivers of sexual health conversations between patients and healthcare providers.: Many adults aged 65-80 are interested in and engage in sexual activity. While the majority of older adults reported a willingness to discuss their sexual health with their health care providers, few had done so, and most conversations were initiated by patients. Iterest in sex and satisfaction with sex life may be targets for intervention and offer a segue for providers as they begin the conversation to engage with older adults about their sexual health.: Providers may have conversations with older adults about sexual health and may need sexual health training to have effective discussions; age nor chronic conditions should preclude this essential conversation. Clinical gerontologists may be helpful in this training and in encouraging patients to bring up sexual health concerns during their medical appointments.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2021.1882637 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder Stigma: Mapping Pathways Between Structures and Individuals to Accelerate Research and Intervention.
Annu Rev Clin Psychol
January 2025
2School of Healthcare Leadership, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Researchers, interventionists, and clinicians are increasingly recognizing the importance of structural stigma in elevating the risk of mental illnesses (MIs) and substance use disorders (SUDs) and in undermining MI/SUD treatment and recovery. Yet, the pathways through which structural stigma influences MI/SUD-related outcomes remain unclear. In this review, we aim to address this gap by summarizing scholarship on structural MI/SUD stigma and identifying pathways whereby structural stigma affects MI/SUD-related outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPeriod poverty and mental health among students attending a US university.
J Am Coll Health
January 2025
Department of Health Science, College of Health and Wellness, Johnson & Wales University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of period poverty in university students and if experiencing period poverty is associated with poor mental health outcomes.
Methods: Participants were = 311 females assigned at birth attending a university in the northeast US. Seven items assessed period poverty.
First use of cord blood platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus: a preliminary study towards a randomized controlled trial.
Blood Transfus
December 2024
Department of Transfusion Medicine and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milano, Milan, Italy.
Background: Although topical corticosteroids (TCS) represent first-line treatment for vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) and as such should be prescribed to all women at time of diagnosis, approximately 30% of patients do not experience complete symptom resolution following such treatment. TCS may not effectively improve vulvar trophism and elasticity, both of which are crucial for sexual function. Owing to its regenerative and healing properties, cord blood platelet-rich plasma (CB-PRP) may represent an efficacious supplementary therapy, to be administered following first line treatment with TCS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStudying the Digital Intervention Engagement-Mediated Relationship Between Intrapersonal Measures and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Adherence in Sexual and Gender Minority Youth: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.
J Med Internet Res
January 2025
Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States.
Background: Improving adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) via digital health interventions (DHIs) for young sexual and gender minority men who have sex with men (YSGMMSM) is promising for reducing the HIV burden. Measuring and achieving effective engagement (sufficient to solicit PrEP adherence) in YSGMMSM is challenging.
Objective: This study is a secondary analysis of the primary efficacy randomized controlled trial (RCT) of Prepared, Protected, Empowered (P3), a digital PrEP adherence intervention that used causal mediation to quantify whether and to what extent intrapersonal behavioral, mental health, and sociodemographic measures were related to effective engagement for PrEP adherence in YSGMMSM.
Recent Incarceration and HIV Risk Among Women Who Use Heroin.
JAMA Netw Open
January 2025
Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
Importance: Women who use heroin in sub-Saharan Africa face elevated HIV risk linked to structural vulnerability including frequent incarceration. However, little is known about the association between incarceration and drug use and HIV outcomes among women who use heroin in Africa.
Objective: To estimate associations between incarceration and adverse HIV-related and drug use-related outcomes among women who used heroin.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!