Changes in Older Adults’ Sexual Expression: A Latent Transition Analysis

Many older adults are sexually active, but how sexual expression - defined as the combination of behaviors, desires, and motivations - changes over time is unclear. We addressed this gap using longitudinal data on partnered and unpartnered heterosexual older adults (ages 57-85) from the US National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP; N = 2,245) and Latent Transition Analysis. We identified six sexual expression latent statuses: versatile, traditionalist, frustrated, and resigned inactive among the partnered, and longing and disinterested among the unpartnered. The versatile had more frequent and varied sexual activities compared to the traditionalist, who had slightly lower levels of a more limited range of behaviors. Both the frustrated and resigned inactive expressed a mismatch between their desire and sexual activity levels, but the latter thought sex was not an important part of their life. Some unpartnered older adults had high sexual desire and motivations (longing), but many had neither (disinterested). There was both stability and change over time, with stability more common among low activity statuses. Men were more likely to be versatile, frustrated, and longing. Women were more likely to be traditionalist and disinterested. The transition rates were largely similar. Health changes predicted men's (but not women's) sexual expression transitions. The findings highlight that older adults' sexual expression is heterogeneous and dynamic, with declines being common but not universal.