Predicting Changes to Sexual Activity in Later Life: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Prior research has focused intensively on understanding why some older adults are sexually active and others are not. However, very few studies have examined changes in the sexual frequency and the related predictors. Methods This study analyzed longitudinal data from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (2017–2020), specifically data from 978 Czechs (meanage = 69.7; SDage = 7.8; 60% women). Logistic and ordinal regression models were constructed to identify older people who were likely to maintain their sexual frequency; cease their sexual activity; and experience a change (i.e., increase or decrease) in the frequency of their sexual activity. Results Partnership status discriminated sexually active people from entirely sexually inactive people at both time points. Sexual cessation was connected to an increased number of chronic illnesses and poorer socioeconomic status. However, the target variables were ineffective in predicting the changes in sexual frequency among sexually active people in a heterosexual relationship. Conclusions This suggests that a more complex set of factors should be taken into consideration in future research. Policy Implications Recommendations related to good health and relationship stability may make later-life sexual activity more normative compared to previous older generations and linking sexual activity to successful ageing still needs to be critically reviewed.