Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Menopause01:28

Menopause

Menopause, a natural biological process marking the end of a woman's fertility, typically occurs between the fifth and sixth decade of life. This phase is characterized by the exhaustion of the ovarian follicle pool, leading to less responsive ovaries despite the high levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). The consequential decrease in estrogen production results in symptoms like hot flashes, heavy sweating, headaches, hair loss, muscle pains, vaginal...
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Genital01:23

Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Genital

The genital stage is the final phase of Sigmund Freud's theory of psychosexual development, beginning at puberty, around age 12. During this stage, sexual energy shifts from self-focused interests to external individuals, marking the development of mature adult sexuality. Freud saw this phase as a time of sexual reawakening, with desires directed toward others outside the family. A healthy transition into this stage, according to Freud, signifies the emergence of two key aspects of adult...
Disorders of the Male Reproductive System01:20

Disorders of the Male Reproductive System

Men's health issues are increasingly recognized as significant, with several conditions posing common threats. Among these, testicular cancer is especially prevalent in younger men, particularly those aged 20 to 35 years. The disease often manifests as a painless mass in the testicles, sometimes accompanied by a sensation of heaviness or a dull ache.
Prostate disorders are another major concern. These conditions can impair urinary flow due to the prostate's location around the urethra. Symptoms...
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age01:27

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adulthood01:27

Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adulthood

Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development outlines a series of stages through which individuals progress across the lifespan. Each stage involves a psychosocial conflict that significantly influences personal growth and well-being. Three key stages — intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation, and integrity versus despair — highlight the developmental challenges faced in adulthood.
Intimacy Versus Isolation in Early Adulthood
Individuals in early adulthood, from the 20s...
Cognitive Development During Adulthood01:30

Cognitive Development During Adulthood

Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Workshop summary: National Institutes of Health (NIH) 2022 scientific workshop on gender and health.

Social science & medicine (1982)·2024
Same author

Linked Lives and Cumulative Inequality: A Multigenerational Family Life Course Framework.

Journal of family theory & review·2018
Same author

Lies, Damned Lies, and Survey Self-Reports? Identity as a Cause of Measurement Bias.

Social psychology quarterly·2017
Same author

Does Black Socioeconomic Mobility Explain Recent Progress Toward Black-White Residential Integration?

Demography·2017
Same author

Neighborhood social stressors, fine particulate matter air pollution, and cognitive function among older U.S. adults.

Social science & medicine (1982)·2016
Same author

Your Face is Your Fortune: Does Adolescent Attractiveness Predict Intimate Relationships Later in Life?

The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences·2015
Same journal

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Far East: Findings from Multi-National Surveys.

Current psychiatry reports·2026
Same journal

Involuntary Celibacy in the Digital Age: a Critical Narrative Review of the Incel Phenomenon, Mental Health Burden, Ideological Pathways, and Public Health Implications.

Current psychiatry reports·2026
Same journal

Is Technology Remaking Therapy: The Screen and the Self: Telepsychiatry, AI Therapy, and the Defense Against Intimacy.

Current psychiatry reports·2026
Same journal

Bridging Gaps in Perinatal Mental Health: A Review of Peer and Non-specialist Supports for Racially, Ethnically and Culturally Diverse Communities in the U.S.

Current psychiatry reports·2026
Same journal

Psychosocial Preparedness for Disasters: A Scoping Review of International Models and Public Health Priorities.

Current psychiatry reports·2026
Same journal

Artificial Intelligence in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: A Narrative Review of Recent Clinical Applications and Ethical Considerations.

Current psychiatry reports·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility
04:22

Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility

Published on: May 30, 2025

Sexual functioning in older adults.

John DeLamater1, Amelia Karraker

  • 1University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1180 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA. delamate@ssc.wisc.edu

Current Psychiatry Reports
|February 4, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sexual functioning in older adults is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. While aging may decrease sexual activity frequency, social context and relationships remain crucial for continued sexual expression.

More Related Videos

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
07:40

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Published on: May 31, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility
04:22

Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility

Published on: May 30, 2025

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
07:40

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Published on: May 31, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Sexual Health
  • Social Sciences

Background:

  • Sexual functioning is a key component of quality of life for older adults.
  • Understanding the multifaceted nature of sexual health in aging populations is critical.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent medical and social science literature on sexual functioning in older adults.
  • To define sexual functioning broadly, encompassing diverse forms of sexual expression.
  • To identify key determinants influencing sexual health across the life course.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive review of current medical and social science research.
  • Analysis of literature focusing on determinants of sexual functioning.
  • Inclusion of data from major population studies on aging and sexuality.

Main Results:

  • Aging and health status correlate with a potential decline in sexual activity frequency.
  • Hormonal influences on male and female sexual functioning remain an area of active research.
  • Social context, partner availability, and relationship quality significantly impact sexual activity in older age.

Conclusions:

  • Sexual functioning in older adults is complex, influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors.
  • Social context and partner dynamics play a vital role in maintaining sexual activity.
  • Further research is needed to understand variations by life course events, gender, and ethnicity.