Introduction

Sexual satisfaction is relevant to aging well, throughout the lifespan. This study aims to compare the perspectives of sexual satisfaction and adjustment to aging (AtA) in three age cohorts across the lifespan and to analyze whether sexual satisfaction influences the perceptions of AtA.

Methods

This cross-sectional study comprised 619 participants from three different age cohorts (18–44, 45–64, and 65 + years). Three measures were used to meet the defined objectives: (a) Adjustment to Aging Scale (ATAS), (b) New Sexual Satisfaction Scale (NSSS-S), and (c) sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle questionnaire. Data were subject to MANOVAs and hierarchical regression analyses.

Results

Social support emerged as the most relevant dimension in the multifactorial nature of AtA. Generational differences were found in sense of purpose and ambitions [F _{(2, 616)} = 14.203, p < .001], zest and spirituality [F _{(2, 616)} = 3.175, p = .042], body and health [F _{(2, 616)} = 8.732, p < .001], and social support [F _{(2, 616)} = 10.646, p < .001], with participants aged 65 and older showing significantly lower levels in all dimensions. Younger participants showed the highest score for body and health. Age-related decreases in sexual satisfaction were also found, as younger participants showed statistically higher levels of sexual satisfaction, followed by middle-aged and older participants. Sexual satisfaction predicts all the dimensions of AtA, exception made for aging in place and stability. Ego-centered sexual satisfaction positively predicted sense of purpose and ambitions (β = .225, p = .015) and social support (β = .297, p < .001), while partner/sexual activity–centered sexual satisfaction was a positive predictor of zest and spirituality (β = .243, p = .010) and body and health (β = .243, p = .008).

Conclusions

Sexual satisfaction decreases with age and is positively related to dimensions of AtA. Sexual satisfaction is a relevant variable for effective approaches to promoting healthy aging and overall well-being among (older) adults.

Policy Implications

Gerontological program policies and interventions with older people would strongly benefit of including sexual satisfaction as a relevant variable for aging well along the lifespan.

中文翻译：

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整个生命周期的性健康：性满意度与适应衰老有关吗？

介绍

性满足感与整个生命周期的衰老密切相关。本研究旨在比较三个年龄段的人在整个生命周期中对性满意度和衰老适应（AtA）的看法，并分析性满意度是否会影响 AtA 的认知。

方法

这项横断面研究由来自三个不同年龄组（18-44 岁、45-64 岁和 65 岁以上）的 619 名参与者组成。采用三项措施来实现既定目标：(a) 老龄化调整量表 (ATAS)、(b) 新性满意度量表 (NSSS-S) 和 (c) 社会人口、健康和生活方式调查问卷。数据经过多元方差分析和层次回归分析。

结果

社会支持成为 AtA 多因素性质中最相关的维度。代际差异体现在目标感和抱负 [ F _{(2, 616)}  = 14.203, p  < .001]、热情和灵性 [ F _{(2, 616)}  = 3.175, p  = .042]、身体和健康 [ F _{(2, 616)}  = 8.732, p  < .001] 和社会支持 [ F _{(2, 616)}  = 10.646, p  < .001]，65 岁及以上的参与者在所有维度上都表现出显着较低的水平。年轻参与者在身体和健康方面得分最高。还发现与年龄相关的性满意度下降，年轻参与者表现出统计上较高的性满意度水平，其次是中年和老年参与者。性满意度可以预测 AtA 的所有维度，但就地老化和稳定性而言是例外。以自我为中心的性满足感正向预测目标感和抱负（β  = .225，p  = .015）和社会支持（β  = .297，p  < .001），而以伴侣/性活动为中心的性满足感则为正向预测热情和灵性 ( β  = .243, p  = .010) 以及身体和健康 ( β  = .243, p  = .008) 的预测因子。

结论

性满意度随着年龄的增长而降低，并且与 AtA 的维度呈正相关。性满意度是促进（老年人）健康老龄化和整体福祉的有效方法的相关变量。

政策影响

如果将性满足感作为一生中衰老的相关变量，老年学项目政策和对老年人的干预措施将大有裨益。