Rahn, A., Bennett, C., Jones, T., & Lykins, A. (2020). Happily partnered older adults’ relationship-enhancing behaviours. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 39(Suppl. 1). pp.30-39. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajag.12731 (original) (raw)
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Objectives: Australian aged care policy is wholly focused on individual “consum-ers” and consequently neglects the needs of dyadic partners. This paper highlights partnered baby boomers’ attitudes to maintaining sexual and intimate relationships in residential care. Methods: In 2016, cross-sectional data were collected using an online survey of partnered baby boomers recruited using social media. Qualitative data were analysed using word frequency, keywords-in-context and thematic analysis. Descriptive statistics were generated from quantitative data. Results: There were 168 participants (85% female), aged 51-71 years. Many reported that remaining together and continuing physical and sexual contact were important in aged care contexts—necessitating private couple's suites, shared beds, access to condoms, lubricants and sexual health professionals. Conclusions: Considerable cultural change will be required to raise residential aged care to the standard expected by some partnered baby boomers. Shifting to a more couple-centred approach may benefit partnered residents’ health and well-being.
Sexual activity over the life course is strongly associated with better health and greater personal happiness, yet the sexuality of aging adults has been a neglected topic. There is a lack of research on those with a consensually non-exclusive sexual relationship style regardless of age. This research examines whether such an orientation has positive effects on sexual frequency, health and personal happiness, and how this might inform counselors and therapists providing services to older adults. The authors collected 502 responses via an online survey from individuals aged 55 and older residing in the United States who engage in consensually non-exclusive sexual relationships. Self-reported health and happiness, number of sexual partners, and sexual frequency were compared with 723 similar respondents from the nationally representative 2012 United States (US) General Social Survey. Key findings were: irrespective of formal relationship status, the non-exclusive sample reported significantly more sexual partners, more sexual frequency, better health, and were much more likely to have had an HIV test than the general US population; the nonexclusive sample also reported being significantly happier than the general population, with the exception of married men, who reported being as happy as the general population sample; and regression analyses suggest that the factors which predict better health and happiness differ between the general population and those who participate in consensually non-exclusive sexual relationships. In summary, this study examines sexuality among the healthy aging population. Participation (or interest in participation), in consensual non-exclusive sexual relationship styles can be rewarding and contribute to personal health and happiness, as much as or more than monogamous marriages. Keywords: optimal aging; optimal sexuality; sexual frequency; non-exclusive relationships; non-monogamy; sexual satisfaction; HIV testing; gerotranscendence
The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, 2014
This paper introduces scales on shared activity and relationship quality for married and partnered older adults using multiple indicators from the second wave of National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. We assessed the reliability of the scales using Cronbach's alpha and the item-total correlation. We conducted exploratory factor analysis to explore the structure of the items and compared the distribution of each scale means by age group and gender. We found that the relational quality scale has a 2-factor structure, including a positive and negative dimension. The shared activity scale has a 1-factor structure. We found that partnered men show both higher positive and higher negative relationship quality than do partnered women, suggesting that more older men than women experience ambivalent feelings toward their spouse or partner and more women than men have relationships of indifferent quality, with relatively low costs and relatively low benefits. The separate concep...
Marriage & Family Review
Intimate relationships in later adulthood are understudied despite their positive association with health and well-being. This cross-sectional mixed methods study sought to redress this gap by investigating relationship maintenance in later adulthood. Our international sub-sample comprised 1,565 participants aged 55 + and in an ongoing relationship. Results from hierarchical multiple regression indicated that overall happiness with the relationship had the largest effect size on relationship maintenance, with 53% of the variance explained. Content analyses of open-ended questions identified companionship and laughter as some of the "best liked" aspects of the relationship. Housework/cooking and saying "I love you" were among the behaviors that made participants feel appreciated. Results illustrated the types of maintenance behaviors adults in later adulthood who are in enduring partnerships employ.
Intimacy for older adults in long-term care: a need, a right, a privilege—or a kind of care?
Journal of Medical Ethics, 2021
Background To investigate attitudes of staff, residents and family members in long-term care towards sex and intimacy among older adults, specifically the extent to which they conceptualise sex and intimacy as a need, a right, a privilege or as a component of overall well-being. Methods The present study was a part of a two-arm mixed-methods cross-sectional study using a concurrent triangulation design. A validated survey tool was developed; 433 staff surveys were collected from 35 facilities across the country. Interviews were conducted with 75 staff, residents and family members. Results It was common for staff, residents and family members to talk about intimacy and sexuality in terms of rights and needs. As well as using the language of needs and rights, it was common for participants to use terms related to well-being, such as fun, happiness or being miserable. One participant in particular (a staff member) described receiving intimate touch as a ‘kind of care’—a particularly u...
The initiation and progression of late-life romantic relationships
Journal of Sociology, 2012
This research explores the initiation and progression of new late-life romantic relationships among older Australians (60 years plus). Our research found that older adult romantic relationships were meaningful, important and sexually intimate. However, few led to cohabitation or marriage, with these older adults preferring to date or to maintain separate households (living-apart-together, LAT). In line with Giddens’ ideal of ‘pure’ relationships, our research indicates that older adults are looking for egalitarian relationships based on emotional and sexual equality, albeit not necessarily based on cohabitation or monogamy.
Sexuality in Older Couples: Individual and Dyadic Characteristics
Archives of sexual behavior, 2015
Sexuality is a key component of health and functioning that changes with age. Although most sexual activity takes place with a partner, the majority of research on sexuality has focused on individuals. In this paper, we focused on the sexual dyad. We proposed and tested a conceptual model of the predictors of partnered sexual activity in older adulthood. This model began with the personality of each of the partners, which affects individuals' views of sex and characteristics of the partnership, which in turn affected sexual expression in the couple. We measured a key feature of personality, Positivity, which reflected the individual's tendency to present his or herself positively in social situations. This trait, we posited, increased frequency of sex through increased desire for sex, and the subjective importance of sex to each member of the couple. In this model, Positivity also impacted characteristics of the relationship that promoted dyadic sexual behavior. These proces...