Der Zusammenhang zwischen sexueller Zufriedenheit und Eheglück wird mit zunehmendem Alter stärker. Die Studie ergab, dass das Alter und nicht die Dauer einer Ehe bei diesem Trend die dominierende Rolle spielt, was darauf hindeutet, dass Paare mit zunehmendem Alter möglicherweise zunehmend Wert auf sexuelle Befriedigung legen.
Sexual satisfaction’s link to marital happiness grows stronger with age
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I’ve linked to the news release in the post above. In this comment, for those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:
https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/10.1027/1864-9335/a000554
Abstract: Based on a representative sample derived from the MIDUS study (1,472 females and 1,415 males), we investigate temporal patterns of the relationship between sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction and find that this relationship increases (rather than decreases) with time, and that it is primarily due to age (rather than marital duration). Theoretical and methodological implications of this finding are discussed, and in particular the importance of relying on large samples when examining moderation effects, of examining alternative explanations for observed interactions, and of conducting replications in samples drawn from different populations.
From the linked article:
Sexual satisfaction’s link to marital happiness grows stronger with age
A new study has found that the relationship between sexual satisfaction and marital satisfaction strengthens as individuals grow older, contrary to the belief that its importance diminishes over time. Published in Social Psychology, the study found that age, rather than the length of a marriage, plays the dominant role in this trend, suggesting that couples may increasingly value sexual satisfaction as they grow older.
The key finding from the study was the role of age in shaping the link between sexual and marital satisfaction. As individuals grow older, sexual satisfaction appears to play a more substantial role in their overall marital happiness. This may reflect changing priorities in later life, where emotional closeness, intimacy, and shared experiences become more valued. The researchers speculated that aging could lead to a greater appreciation of the sexual aspects of relationships, possibly due to an increased understanding of one’s desires or improved communication with a long-term partner.
Interestingly, the study also highlighted gender differences in these dynamics. For women, the findings showed a clear and consistent pattern: as they aged, the importance of sexual satisfaction in contributing to their overall marital happiness increased. Marital duration, however, did not appear to have a significant impact.
For men, the relationship was more complex. While age played a role similar to that observed in women, marital duration also influenced how sexual satisfaction impacted marital happiness. In particular, sexual satisfaction appeared to have a stronger effect on marital satisfaction for men in shorter marriages compared to those in longer marriages.
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I believe the article is saying that if you are sexually unsatisfied at the beginning of a relationships, that will result in less negative feelings, than when very advanced in a relationships (say decades) if the dissatisfaction continues?
That isn’t surprising. Living life sexually unsatisfied is very emotionally challenging I imagine. Sexual compatibility is a very important part of the commitment of marriage IMO.
Sounds right to me. I’ve been married 13 years and after 13 years of having sex with someone you get pretty good at knowing what the other person likes and if they want something different they feel pretty comfortable asking for it. Of course I have a good marriage, others experience may vary.
A lot changes as people age. Guys settle down. Women… Figure themselves out. I’m 45 now and sex with middle aged women is great. So much better. Rawr. They are less shy, less hung up on stuff, know what they want, and how to ask for it. And I think I’ve gotten better to, a lot more thoughtful. Less focused on me.
Sonic suspect some of those changing attitudes about sex shape the findings of this paper. And there may be a missing aspect of people whom don’t have a long standing marriage because they got divorced my marriage had a rotten sex life and here we are, middle aged, divorced, and having the best loving ever (GF is nearby but I’m not showing her this comment, but she knows…)
This could be related to age making sex feel less like “I urgently need this now/at x frequency”
I think even if you’re in a relatively new relationship at say, 50 or 60 years old, why should your attitude to sex be much different compared to those in a long marriage? In fact you might value anything that helps nurture the relationship.
In the younger years like the 20s and 30s there are so many competing priorities.