Changes in Older Adults' Sexual Expression: A Latent Transition Analysis.
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| Title: | Changes in Older Adults' Sexual Expression: A Latent Transition Analysis. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Lyons, Heidi A. (AUTHOR), Warner, David F. (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Sex Research. May2026, Vol. 63 Issue 4, p525-545. 21p. |
| Subjects: | Human sexuality, Longitudinal method, Lust, Sexual intercourse, Markov processes, Demographic characteristics, Older people, Gender differences (Sociology) |
| Abstract: | Many older adults are sexually active, but how sexual expression – defined as the combination of behaviors, desires, and motivations – changes over time is unclear. We addressed this gap using longitudinal data on partnered and unpartnered heterosexual older adults (ages 57–85) from the US National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP; N = 2,245) and Latent Transition Analysis. We identified six sexual expression latent statuses: versatile, traditionalist, frustrated, and resigned inactive among the partnered, and longing and disinterested among the unpartnered. The versatile had more frequent and varied sexual activities compared to the traditionalist, who had slightly lower levels of a more limited range of behaviors. Both the frustrated and resigned inactive expressed a mismatch between their desire and sexual activity levels, but the latter thought sex was not an important part of their life. Some unpartnered older adults had high sexual desire and motivations (longing), but many had neither (disinterested). There was both stability and change over time, with stability more common among low activity statuses. Men were more likely to be versatile, frustrated, and longing. Women were more likely to be traditionalist and disinterested. The transition rates were largely similar. Health changes predicted men's (but not women's) sexual expression transitions. The findings highlight that older adults' sexual expression is heterogeneous and dynamic, with declines being common but not universal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Sex Research is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Header | DbId: pbh DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection An: 192783905 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Changes in Older Adults' Sexual Expression: A Latent Transition Analysis. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lyons%2C+Heidi+A%2E%22">Lyons, Heidi A.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Warner%2C+David+F%2E%22">Warner, David F.</searchLink> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Sex+Research%22">Journal of Sex Research</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 63 Issue 4, p525-545. 21p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+sexuality%22">Human sexuality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Longitudinal+method%22">Longitudinal method</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Lust%22">Lust</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sexual+intercourse%22">Sexual intercourse</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Markov+processes%22">Markov processes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Demographic+characteristics%22">Demographic characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Older+people%22">Older people</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+differences+%28Sociology%29%22">Gender differences (Sociology)</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Many older adults are sexually active, but how sexual expression – defined as the combination of behaviors, desires, and motivations – changes over time is unclear. We addressed this gap using longitudinal data on partnered and unpartnered heterosexual older adults (ages 57–85) from the US National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP; N = 2,245) and Latent Transition Analysis. We identified six sexual expression latent statuses: versatile, traditionalist, frustrated, and resigned inactive among the partnered, and longing and disinterested among the unpartnered. The versatile had more frequent and varied sexual activities compared to the traditionalist, who had slightly lower levels of a more limited range of behaviors. Both the frustrated and resigned inactive expressed a mismatch between their desire and sexual activity levels, but the latter thought sex was not an important part of their life. Some unpartnered older adults had high sexual desire and motivations (longing), but many had neither (disinterested). There was both stability and change over time, with stability more common among low activity statuses. Men were more likely to be versatile, frustrated, and longing. Women were more likely to be traditionalist and disinterested. The transition rates were largely similar. Health changes predicted men's (but not women's) sexual expression transitions. The findings highlight that older adults' sexual expression is heterogeneous and dynamic, with declines being common but not universal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Sex Research is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=192783905 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1080/00224499.2025.2542458 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 21 StartPage: 525 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Human sexuality Type: general – SubjectFull: Longitudinal method Type: general – SubjectFull: Lust Type: general – SubjectFull: Sexual intercourse Type: general – SubjectFull: Markov processes Type: general – SubjectFull: Demographic characteristics Type: general – SubjectFull: Older people Type: general – SubjectFull: Gender differences (Sociology) Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Changes in Older Adults' Sexual Expression: A Latent Transition Analysis. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Lyons, Heidi A. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Warner, David F. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 05 Text: May2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00224499 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 63 – Type: issue Value: 4 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Sex Research Type: main |
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