Adult Sexuality

Never Married (Young) Adults

•dealing with issues of sexual orientation and defining one’s sexual identity seems to be more difficult for males than females

sexual maturity depends upon becoming responsible about sex and developing the capacity for intimacy

•never married individuals are an increasing portion of population

–primarily due to later age of first marriage

•median age is now 27yr. for men, 25yr. for women

•during their twenties, the majority of women & almost half of men have only one sexual relationship prior to marriage

–40% of men & 28% of women in their twenties have two or more sexual relationships before marriage (serial monogamy)

Cohabitation

•although less than 10% of all couples are currently cohabiting, 42% of Americans have cohabited at least once by the age of 29, & majority of couples currently entering marriage have cohabited

•characteristics of cohabiting relationships

–don’t last long

–plan to marry (60% do)

–divorce rate for those who marry is higher than married couples who did not cohabit

–many include formerly married partners

–almost half involve children

–more frequent intercourse than married couples

Marital Sex

•about 92% marry, 50% divorce, 80% remarry

•married couples have the most sex, enjoy it the most, & are most likely to experience orgasm

•frequency of intercourse = 2-3 times/week for married couples in their twenties, rate declines as they get older (once/week in their fifties)

–rate has remained about the same for last 60 years

•biggest change in marital sex over last 50 years is increase in oral sex

•Which partner is more likely to initiate sex?

–51% husbands, 33% both/equal, 16% wives

•masturbation is common and normal

•husbands report higher rates of physical & emotional satisfaction with sexual relationship

–frequency and satisfaction correlated (but not necessarily causal)

•in dual career families, sexual satisfaction is correlated with both spouses job satisfaction

Extramarital Sex

•not as common as many people believe;incidence seems to have declined over last 25 years

•probably about 25% of husbands & 15% of wives have engaged in extramarital sex at least once

–ethnic differences

•attitudes have remained relatively unchanged (3/4 disapprove)

–greater tolerance among men (as compared to women) and among those with higher levels of education & social class

–approval or tolerance not good predictors of behavior

•likelihood of extramarital sex related to equity in marital relationship

•swinging: consensual extramarital sex

–social characteristics of participants

Postmarital Sex

•virtually all divorced & widowed men, most divorced women, but fewer widowed women return to active sex life

–variation based on age, presence of children

Sex and the Elderly

•our society has negative attitude toward sexual expression among the elderly

–youth oriented culture

–belief that sex is for reproduction

–incest taboo

–misunderstandings about sexual activity

•sexual behavior of the elderly is related to cultural expectations

•need good physical & mental health, regular sexual expression in order to maintain sexual capacity

•husband is usually responsible for cessation of sex

•1999 A.A.R.P. survey indicates all forms of sexual activity continue past 70