Reciprocal associations between depressive symptoms and satisfaction with sexual life in older adults: the roles of gender and importance attached to sexuality.
Natasja Schutter, Tjalling J Holwerda, Almar A L Kok, Dorly J H Deeg
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objectives: To gain insight into the longitudinal, reciprocal associations between depressive symptoms and sexual satisfaction as well as the potential moderating roles of gender and perceived importance of sexuality.
Method: We analyzed longitudinal data from 2113 participants of the Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam (LASA) with an initial age range of 54-93 years, using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE).
Results: There were no significant associations between baseline depressive symptoms and change in sexual satisfaction, nor between baseline sexual satisfaction and change in depressive symptoms. Gender and perceived importance of sexuality were moderators: in men higher depression scores were associated with a decrease in sexual satisfaction, whereas in women higher depression scores were associated with an increase in sexual satisfaction. In participants for whom sexual life was important, higher depression scores were associated with a decrease in sexual satisfaction. In participants for whom sexual life was not important, higher depression scores were associated with an increase in sexual satisfaction.
Conclusion: The associations between baseline depressive symptoms and change in sexual satisfaction as well as between baseline sexual satisfaction and change in depressive symptoms varied according to gender and importance ascribed to sexuality. Potential explanations might lie in the different roles sexual activity plays in sexual satisfaction in men and women.
期刊介绍:
Aging & Mental Health provides a leading international forum for the rapidly expanding field which investigates the relationship between the aging process and mental health. The journal addresses the mental changes associated with normal and abnormal or pathological aging, as well as the psychological and psychiatric problems of the aging population. The journal also has a strong commitment to interdisciplinary and innovative approaches that explore new topics and methods.
Aging & Mental Health covers the biological, psychological and social aspects of aging as they relate to mental health. In particular it encourages an integrated approach for examining various biopsychosocial processes and etiological factors associated with psychological changes in the elderly. It also emphasizes the various strategies, therapies and services which may be directed at improving the mental health of the elderly and their families. In this way the journal promotes a strong alliance among the theoretical, experimental and applied sciences across a range of issues affecting mental health and aging. The emphasis of the journal is on rigorous quantitative, and qualitative, research and, high quality innovative studies on emerging topics.