Older married couples’ sexual expression: A dyadic latent class analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 3139-3159
Author(s):  
David F. Warner ◽  
Heidi A. Lyons

Many older adults continue to engage in sexual behavior, most often in the context of long-term marriages. Prior studies have tended to examine older adults’ sexual behavior, desires and motivations separately. Thus, there remain considerable gaps in our understanding of the multifaceted-nature of older couples’ sexual expression. Using dyadic latent class analysis and data on 953 heterosexual couples in long-term marriages from Wave 2 of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), we describe configurations of couples’ sexual expression. Four latent classes were identified. Within each latent class, couples were largely in agreement about their sexual behaviors, but husbands consistently expressed greater desire and motivation than their wives. In the highest engagement class, couples reported more frequent and wide-ranging activities (vaginal sex, oral sex, intimate touching), more frequent thinking about sex, greater satisfaction with their amount of sexual activity, and placed more importance on sex as part of their lives. In the lowest engagement class, both spouses indicated no sexual activity in the past year, but neither spouse was content with this situation even as both agreed sex was not an important part of life. Demographic, relational, and health factors were associated with membership in different classes. Health factors—especially sexual difficulties—were most predictive, with husbands’ health more associated with latent class membership than wives’ health. Given the complex and multifaceted nature of sexual expression among older married couples, geriatricians and other health practitioners should provide care that recognizes a wider array of activities and the potential for unmet need. Sexual expression is an important component of older adults’ health and well-being.

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-105
Author(s):  
Ann Glusker

A Review of: van Boekel, L.C., Peek, S. T., & Luijkx, K.G. (2017). Diversity in older adults’ use of the Internet: Identifying subgroups through latent class analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 19(5:e180), 1-10. doi: 10.2196/jmir.6853 Abstract Objective – To determine the amount and types of variation in Internet use among older adults, and to test its relationship to social and health factors. Design – Representative longitudinal survey panel of households Setting – The Netherlands Subjects – A panel with 1,418 members who were over 65 years of age had answered the survey questionnaire that included Internet use questions, and who reported access to and use of the Internet. Methods – Using information about the Internet activities the respondents reported, the authors conducted latent class analysis and extracted a best-fitting model including four clusters of respondent Internet use types.  The four groups were analyzed using descriptive statistics and compared using ANOVA and chi-square tests.  Analysis and comparisons were conducted both between groups, and on the relationship of the groups with a range of social and health variables. Main Results – The four clusters identified included: 1) practical users using the Internet for practical purposes such as financial transactions; 2) social users using the Internet for activities such as social media and gaming; 3) minimizers, who spent the least time on the Internet and were the oldest group; and 4) maximizers, who used the Internet for the widest range of purposes, for the most time, and who were the youngest group.  Once the clusters were delineated, social and health factors were examined (specifically social and emotional loneliness, psychological well-being, and two activities of daily living (ADL) measures).  There were significant differences between groups, but the effect sizes were small.  Practical users had higher psychological well-being, whereas minimizers had the lowest scores related to ADLs and overall health (however, they were also the oldest group). Conclusions – The establishment of four clusters of Internet use types demonstrates that older adults are not homogeneous in their Internet practices.  However, there were no marked findings showing differences between the clusters in social and health-related variables (the minimizers reported lower health status, but they were also the oldest group).  Nevertheless, the finding of Internet use heterogeneity is an important one for those who wish to connect with older adults through Internet-based programming.  The different patterns evidenced in each cluster will require differing outreach strategies. It also highlights the need for ongoing longitudinal research, to determine whether those who are currently younger and more technologically savvy will age into similar patterns that these authors found, or whether a new set of older adult Internet use profiles will emerge as younger generations with more Internet experience and affinity become older.


Author(s):  
Andrew J. MacGregor ◽  
Amber L. Dougherty ◽  
Edwin W. D’Souza ◽  
Cameron T. McCabe ◽  
Daniel J. Crouch ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Jing Huang ◽  
Pui Hing Chau ◽  
Edmond Pui Hang Choi ◽  
Bei Wu ◽  
Vivian W Q Lou

Abstract Objectives This study identified the classes (i.e., patterns) of caregivers’ activities, based on their engagements in caregiving activities, and explored the characteristics and the caregiver burden of these classes. Methods This study was a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional survey on the profiles of family caregivers of older adults in Hong Kong. A latent class analysis approach was adopted to classify family caregivers (N = 932) according to their routine involvements in 17 daily caregiving activities: 6 activities of daily living (ADLs) and 8 instrumental activities of daily living activities (IADLs) in addition to emotional support, decision making, and financial support. Multinomial logistic regression and multiple linear regression illuminated the characteristics of the classes and compared their levels of caregiver burden. Results The family caregivers fell into 5 classes: All-Round Care (High Demand, 19.5%), All-Round Care (Moderate Demand, 8.2%), Predominant IADLs Care (High Demand, 23.8%), Predominant IADLs Care (Moderate Demand, 32.5%), and Minimal ADLs and IADLs Care (Low Demand, 16.0%). These classes exhibited different characteristics in terms of care recipients’ cognitive statuses and caregiver backgrounds. The levels of caregiver burden differed across classes; the All-Round Care (High Demand) class experienced the highest levels of caregiver burden. Discussion This study contributes to existing scholarship by turning away from a predefined category of care tasks to explore the patterns of caregiving activities. By identifying caregiving activity patterns and understanding their associated characteristics and caregiver burden, prioritizing and targeting caregiver support interventions better is possible.


Author(s):  
Katarina Aili ◽  
Paul Campbell ◽  
Zoe A Michaleff ◽  
Victoria Y. Strauss ◽  
Kelvin Jordan ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 711-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Nicole Hastings ◽  
Heather E. Whitson ◽  
Richard Sloane ◽  
Lawrence R. Landerman ◽  
Carolyn Horney ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
S. Sanchez-Garcia ◽  
E. Heredia-Ponce ◽  
P. Cruz-Hervert ◽  
T. Juarez-Cedillo ◽  
Á. Cardenas-Bahena ◽  
...  

JMIR Aging ◽  
10.2196/10763 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. e10763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darren Liu ◽  
Takashi Yamashita ◽  
Betty Burston

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document