Sexual Relations in Later Life: a National Study of Married Persons

Sexual behavior among married persons 60 years of age and older was examined using data from the National Survey of Families and Households. About 53 percent of the entire sample, and 24 percent of those 76 years of age and older, report having had sexual relations at least once within the past month. Persons who have been sexually active within the past month report having sex about four times during the month. While respondent's age is significantly related to sexual behavior, the monthly incidence and overall sexual frequency variables are not influenced by gender, race, or a Gender by Spouse's Health Status interaction term. While the NSFH variables included in our model are poor predictors of elderly persons' sexual behavior, analyses reveal that a person's sense of self-worth/competence and his/her partner's health status are significantly and positively related to the incidence of sex within the past month.