Laura Pietras, Cynthia A Graham, Peer Briken, Aleksandar Štulhofer
{"title":"Sexual Distress, Concerns About Sex Life, and Successful Sexual Aging: An Exploration in Older Partnered German Adults.","authors":"Laura Pietras, Cynthia A Graham, Peer Briken, Aleksandar Štulhofer","doi":"10.1080/0092623X.2026.2736685","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although research on older adults' sexual functioning and sexual health has increased in recent decades, there is a lack of systematic assessments of the role of sexual distress in positive sexual aging. This study examined associations between sexual distress, concerns about sex life, and positive sexual aging, and whether these associations differ by gender. Data were drawn from a 2024 online survey of partnered, sexually active German adults aged 65 years and older (<i>n</i> = 598). Positive sexual aging was assessed using the Successful Sexual Aging Scale (SSAS). Structural equation modeling controlling for age showed that distress about sexual functioning was strongly and negatively associated with successful sexual aging in both women and men. Concerns about sex life were additionally and uniquely associated with lower SSAS scores among women. Findings underscore the importance of assessing sexual distress and gender-specific concerns in older adults' sexual health care.</p>","PeriodicalId":17171,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2026.2736685","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"FAMILY STUDIES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Although research on older adults' sexual functioning and sexual health has increased in recent decades, there is a lack of systematic assessments of the role of sexual distress in positive sexual aging. This study examined associations between sexual distress, concerns about sex life, and positive sexual aging, and whether these associations differ by gender. Data were drawn from a 2024 online survey of partnered, sexually active German adults aged 65 years and older (n = 598). Positive sexual aging was assessed using the Successful Sexual Aging Scale (SSAS). Structural equation modeling controlling for age showed that distress about sexual functioning was strongly and negatively associated with successful sexual aging in both women and men. Concerns about sex life were additionally and uniquely associated with lower SSAS scores among women. Findings underscore the importance of assessing sexual distress and gender-specific concerns in older adults' sexual health care.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy is one of the top independent journals in the field. Under the prestigious leadership of R. Taylor Seagraves, M.D. - one of the world" foremost experts in sex and marital therapy -- JSMT is an active and contemporary forum reflecting the most viable developments emanating from the U.S. and abroad. JSMT continues to break new ground with innovative research and clinical writing, and the editor is committed to showcasing the most far-reaching traditional and contemporary thinking from all sources. You will read about therapeutic techniques, outcome, special clinical and medical problems, and the theoretical parameters of sexual functioning, and marital relationships.