Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
10:44
Sex Stratified Neuronal Cultures to Study Ischemic Cell Death Pathways
Published on: December 9, 2013
Are There Gender Differences in Successful Sexual Aging? An Exploration Using Three Statistical Approaches.
Aleksandar Štulhofer1, Azra Tafro2, Yuko Higashi3
1Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
Summary
This study explored gender differences in successful sexual aging (SSA) among older adults, finding overall similarities but also specific differences in women's experiences. The findings support using the Successful Sexual Aging Scale for gender comparisons.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sexology
- Sociology
Background:
- The Successful Sexual Aging Model (SSAM) provides a framework for understanding positive sexual aging.
- Human sexuality is influenced by gendered developmental, epidemiological, and sexological factors.
- Understanding gender differences in successful sexual aging (SSA) is crucial for the SSAM's conceptualization of micro, meso, and macro influences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gender differences in successful sexual aging (SSA) among partnered older adults.
- To assess the validity of the Successful Sexual Aging Scale (SSAS) for gender comparisons.
- To explore gender-specific factors influencing SSA within a cross-cultural context.
Main Methods:
- Latent construct measurement invariance testing, latent profile analysis, and network analysis were employed.
- Data were collected from 773 older women and 1054 older men across Croatia, Germany, Portugal, and Japan.
- The 9-item Successful Sexual Aging Scale (SSAS) was used to measure SSA.
Main Results:
- Overall similarities in the latent structure, profile patterns, and network topology of SSA were observed between genders.
- Fine-grained analysis revealed gender-specific differences, including lower latent means for women on two SSA facets.
- Distinct latent profile configurations and gender-specific network connectivity in SSA were identified.
Conclusions:
- The Successful Sexual Aging Scale (SSAS) is a reliable measure for direct gender comparisons in SSA.
- Further research is needed to explore factors like relationship quality, education, and sexual ageism in observed gender differences.
- Dyadic studies can offer deeper insights into subtle gender-specific variations in successful sexual aging.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Two-Way ANOVA
The two-way ANOVA is an extension of the one-way ANOVA. It is a statistical test performed on three or more samples categorized by two factors - a row factor and a column factor. Ronald Fischer mentioned it in 1925 in his book 'Statistical Methods for Researchers.'
The two-way ANOVA analysis initially begins by stating the null hypothesis that there is an interaction effect between the two factors of a dataset. This effect can be visualized using line segments formed by joining the means for...
The two-way ANOVA analysis initially begins by stating the null hypothesis that there is an interaction effect between the two factors of a dataset. This effect can be visualized using line segments formed by joining the means for...
02:20Longitudinal Research
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
02:12Relationship Formation
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
01:23Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective
In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...
01:20Comparing the Survival Analysis of Two or More Groups
Survival analysis is a cornerstone of medical research, used to evaluate the time until an event of interest occurs, such as death, disease recurrence, or recovery. Unlike standard statistical methods, survival analysis is particularly adept at handling censored data—instances where the event has not occurred for some participants by the end of the study or remains unobserved. To address these unique challenges, specialized techniques like the Kaplan-Meier estimator, log-rank test, and Cox...