Prevalence of sexual problems and related help-seeking behaviors among mature adults in Brazil: data from the global study of sexual attitudes and behaviors

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Relatively little is known about the usual frequency of sexual activity and how older individuals cope with sexual problems. The objective was to study sexual activity, prevalence of sexual problems and related help-seeking behaviors among middle-aged and older men and women in Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Population survey, by Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. METHODS: Interviews were held with 1,199 Brazilians aged 40-80 years (471 men and 728 women). The standardized questionnaire investigated demographics, general health, sexual behavior, attitudes and beliefs. RESULTS: Overall, 92.6% of men and 58.3% of women had had sexual intercourse during the preceding year. More than half of the men and women had done so more than once a week. Early ejaculation (30.3%) was the commonest male sexual problem, followed by inability to reach orgasm (14.0%), erectile difficulties (13.1%) and lack of sexual interest (11.2%). For women, the commonest sexual problems were lubrication difficulties (23.4%) and lack of sexual interest (22.7%). Depression was a significant correlate of sexual problems, for men and women. More women than men had sought help for sexual problem(s) from a healthcare professional. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the importance of encouraging greater use of available healthcare services, including consultation with a medical doctor regarding sexual health. This should not only enable men and women to maintain satisfactory sexual function well into their later years, but may also result in overall improvement in the quality of healthcare.

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Sexual difficulties and help-seeking among mature adults in Australia: results from the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviours

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh07055 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 227 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Edson D. Moreira ◽

Dale B. Glasser ◽

Rosie King ◽

Fernanda Gross Duarte ◽

Clive Gingell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Activity ◽

Sexual Intercourse ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Sexual Attitudes ◽

Sexual Interest ◽

Attitudes And Beliefs ◽

Men And Women ◽

Mature Adults ◽

Global Study ◽

Help Seeking Behaviour

Background: The Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviours was a survey of 27 500 men and women in 29 countries. Here we report the sexual activity, the prevalence of sexual difficulties and related help-seeking behaviour among participants in Australia. Methods: A telephone survey was conducted in Australia in 2001–2002, with interviews based on a standardised questionnaire. A total of 1500 individuals (750 men and 750 women) aged 40 to 80 years completed the survey. The questionnaire covered demographic information, overall health, and sexual behaviours, attitudes and beliefs. Results: Overall, 83% of men and 74% of women had engaged in sexual intercourse during the 12 months preceding the interview, and 38% of all men and 29% of all women engaged in sexual intercourse more than once a week. Early ejaculation (23%), erectile difficulties (21%) and a lack of sexual interest (18%) were the most common male sexual difficulties. The most frequently reported female sexual difficulties were: lack of sexual interest (33%), lubrication difficulties (26%) and an inability to reach orgasm (25%). Older age was a significant predictor of male erectile difficulties and of lubrication difficulties in women. Only a minority of men and women had sought help for their sexual difficulty(ies) from a health professional. Conclusions: Many middle-aged and older adults in Australia report continued sexual interest and sexual activity. Several sexual difficulties are highly prevalent in this population, but those experiencing these difficulties rarely seek medical help. This may be because they do not perceive such difficulties as serious or sufficiently upsetting.

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH—EPIDEMIOLOGY: Sexual Activity, Prevalence of Sexual Problems, and Associated Help‐Seeking Patterns in Men and Women Aged 40–80 Years in Korea: Data from the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors (GSSAB)

Journal of Sexual Medicine ◽

10.1111/j.1743-6109.2006.00210.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 201-211 ◽

Cited By ~ 106

Author(s):

Edson D. Moreira ◽

Sae‐Chul Kim ◽

Dale Glasser ◽

Clive Gingell

Keyword(s):

Sexual Activity ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Sexual Attitudes ◽

Sexual Problems ◽

Original Research ◽

Men And Women ◽

Attitudes And Behaviors ◽

Global Study ◽

And Behaviors

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Help-seeking behaviors of people with sexual problems

Archives of Sexual Behavior ◽

10.1007/bf01541549 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 235-250 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Joseph A. Catania ◽

Lance Pollack ◽

Lois J. McDermott ◽

Sara H. Qualls ◽

Louanne Cole

Keyword(s):

Help Seeking ◽

Sexual Problems ◽

Help Seeking Behaviors

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Sexuality of women in middle age: the Göteborg study

Journal of Biosocial Science ◽

10.1017/s0021932000024366 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 11 (S6) ◽

pp. 165-175 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Tore Hallström

Keyword(s):

Life Span ◽

Sexual Activity ◽

Sexual Intercourse ◽

Sexual Behaviour ◽

Middle Age ◽

Sexual Interest ◽

Coital Frequency ◽

Men And Women ◽

Married Men ◽

Factual Data

Until recently there has been a paucity of factual data on the effects of the climacteric upon women's sexuality. The basic questions here are: do changes occur in sexual behaviour, sexual interest or responsiveness during the climacteric years? If so, what are the variations and how are they caused?Two variables used extensively as a measure of sexuality are coital frequency and orgasmic frequency. Kinsey et al. (1953) showed that the degree of sexual activity remained fairly constant in unmarried women up to 55 years of age. By contrast, sexual activity in unmarried men declined gradually from puberty onwards. For married men and women they found that the frequency of sexual outlets declined during the life span. Kinsey et al. emphasized that the decreasing frequency of sexual intercourse and orgasm in marriage does not prove that the sexual capacity of the woman is influenced by her own ageing but could instead be a result of her husband's ageing. These authors were of the opinion that there is little evidence of any ageing in the sexual capacity of the female until late in her life.

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The internalization of social stigma among minor-attracted persons: Implications for treatment

10.31234/osf.io/8dr69 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Rebecca Lievesley ◽

Craig A. Harper ◽

Helen Elliott

Keyword(s):

Help Seeking ◽

Thought Suppression ◽

Survey Design ◽

Sexual Interest ◽

Social Stigma ◽

Psychological Wellbeing ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Help Seeking Behaviors ◽

Shame And Guilt ◽

Social Views

In this paper, we sought to build on existing stigmatization research by examining the extent to which internalized stigmatization (i.e., the personal adoption and incorporation of social views, operationalized as thought suppression – an avoidant coping strategy – and low psychological wellbeing) among minor-attracted persons (MAPs) may impact upon help-seeking behaviors and their avoidance of children. We adopted a cross-sectional anonymous survey design to recruit a sample of self-identified MAPs (N = 183) from prominent online support fora. We found that increased levels of suppression and lower levels of psychological wellbeing were associated with lower levels of hope about the future, but higher levels of both shame and guilt about having a sexual interest in minors. Thought suppression was not significantly associated with outcomes related to help-seeking behaviors, but did significantly higher rates of actively avoiding children, even after controlling for psychological wellbeing and other emotional variables. Independently, lower levels of self-reported psychological wellbeing was associated with a desire for more support and higher rates of actively avoiding children. We explore the potential implications of our data in relation to treating and supporting MAPs within the community, increasing their wellbeing, and encouraging help-seeking behavior. A freely available preprint of this paper is available at https://psyarxiv.com/8dr69/.

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Positive and Negative Affect During Sexual Activity: Differences Between Homosexual and Heterosexual Men and Women, With and Without Sexual Problems

Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy ◽

10.1080/0092623x.2014.996929 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 4-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Maria Manuela Peixoto ◽

Pedro Nobre

Keyword(s):

Negative Affect ◽

Sexual Activity ◽

Sexual Problems ◽

Heterosexual Men ◽

Positive And Negative Affect ◽

Men And Women

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BARRIERS IN CLINIC TO DISCUSSING SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION DUE TO MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry ◽

10.1136/jnnp-2015-312379.6 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 86 (11) ◽

pp. e4.151-e4

Author(s):

Katarina Ivana Tudor ◽

Stefani Eames ◽

Collette Haslam ◽

Jalesh Panicker

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Sexual Dysfunction ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Sexual Interest ◽

Sexual Problems ◽

Men And Women ◽

Consultation Room ◽

Bladder Symptoms ◽

Common Barriers ◽

And Training

BackgroundSexual dysfunction is underdiagnosed in patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Little is known about barriers faced by patients and health care professionals (HCPs) in discussing sexual problems.Patients and methods74 PwMS (20 male, 54 female (mean age 45,877±8,823 years)) and 99 HCPs (8 male, 91 female; 82 (83%) nurses) completed questionnaires evaluating barriers to discussing sexual problems in clinic and sexual dysfunction (MSISQ-15 and ASEX), specifically developed for this study.ResultsSymptoms that interfere most with sexual activity are: Takes too long to orgasm (69.11%), bladder symptoms (66.17%), less intense orgasm (66.17%), lack of sexual interest (60.29%), genital numbness (50%). Most common barriers cited by patients include the prominence of other MS symptoms (43.5%), presence of family/friends in consultation room (41.8%), not being asked (37.3%). HCPs identified presence of family/friends in consultation room (57.6% agree), faced lack of knowledge (48.4% agree), patient not ready (44.3% agree), lack of time (42.2%).ConclusionsSexual dysfunction is common in both men and women following multiple sclerosis. However both patients and HCPs face barriers to addressing the problem. Providing time and privacy during the consultation to discuss sexual dysfunction, and training to HCPs will help to address these barriers.

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