Sexual Behaviour and Health in Older Adults

This book provides a comprehensive overview for those interested in research and promoting sexual health in older people, as well as a “go-to” guide on the topic of sexual behaviour in older adults.

Sexual activity is an essential part of intimate relationships, though it tends to decline in frequency as people grow older. Nevertheless, for many older people, sex still remains an important part of their life. There’s a common misconception that as people age, they lose their interest in sex and capacity for sexual behaviour. This is not the case, as a number of national surveys show.

The new research presented here indicates that the less sex older people have, the more likely they are to experience mental and physical health problems. Men and women who reported a decrease in the frequency of sexual activities were also more likely to report a deterioration in self-perceived health. Additionally, men with erectile dysfunction were also more likely to be diagnosed with cancer or coronary heart disease. This research has also determined that older adults who experience a decline in sexual activity report poorer well-being than those who maintain their levels of sexual desire, activity and function in later life, and that men who remain sexually active in later life continue to have better cognitive performance compared to those who don’t. Despite these health benefits, medical professionals do little to promote sexual activity in older adults, and the literature suggests that there is a lack of knowledge on how to approach the subject and how to promote such activities.

This is the first comprehensive book specifically exploring all areas of sexual behaviour and health in older adults, and drawing on the latest research in this area. It offers a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians in various health fields (medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, psychology, public health, etc.), as well as students in undergraduate and graduate programs.

Professor Lee Smith is an Epidemiologist and Professor of Public Health at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. His research focuses on how we can improve mental and physical health among the public. He has published over 600 peer-reviewed articles many of which focus on sexual behaviour and health in older adults.

Dr Igor Grabovac is a Resident Physician in Public Health at the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Vienna. Dr Grabovac studied at the School of Medicine, University of Zagreb and holds a doctorate in Applied Medical Science (with a focus on Public Health) from the Medical University of Vienna. He has worked as a health policy officer for several international and national NGOs and conducted research on various public health issues including sexuality and health. He is the head of the Austrian Public Health Association’s competency group for Sexual and Gender Diversity and serves on the European Public Health Association’s Steering Committee for the Sexual and Gender Minorities Health Section. He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles and several book chapters.