Physical Women, Emotional Men: Gender and Sexual Satisfaction in Midlife

In late midlife, heterosexual women report markedly lower levels of sexual satisfaction than heterosexual men. This article explored the social factors contributing to this difference, using data from 1,035 sexually-active heterosexual adults, aged 40–59 years, who participated in the National Healt...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of sexual behavior 2009-02, Vol.38 (1), p.87-107
Main Authors: Carpenter, Laura M., Nathanson, Constance A., Kim, Young J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aging
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Culture
Emotions
Female
Gender differences
Generations
Health Status
Heterosexuality - psychology
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Logistic Models
Male
Middle age
Middle Aged
Original Paper
Personal Satisfaction
Psychology
Public Health
Quality of life
Satisfaction
Sex
Sex Characteristics
Sexual Behavior
Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological
Sexuality
Social Factors
Social Sciences
Surveys and Questionnaires
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Summary:In late midlife, heterosexual women report markedly lower levels of sexual satisfaction than heterosexual men. This article explored the social factors contributing to this difference, using data from 1,035 sexually-active heterosexual adults, aged 40–59 years, who participated in the National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS). Conducted in 1992, NHSLS interviewed a nationally representative random sample of U.S. adults about diverse aspects of sexual life (Laumann et al., 1994, The social organization of sexuality: Sexual practices in the United States . Chicago: University of Chicago Press). Contrary to gender stereotypes, women’s emotional satisfaction was closely associated with bodily sexual practices, whereas men’s physical pleasure was linked to relational factors. Lower levels of sexual satisfaction at older ages appeared to stem from differences between the Baby Boom and older generations rather than from aging per se.
ISSN:0004-0002
1573-2800
DOI:10.1007/s10508-007-9215-y