What Is Positive Sexual Aging?

"Although sexuality is linked with health and well-being in older adults, we often experience declines in both sexual frequency and sexual health as we age. Štulhofer et al. emphasize that positive sexual aging should include adapting to the new circumstances and challenges which we may face as older adults."

"Their model of positive sexual health emphasizes that while sexuality is important for older adults, we must be willing to modify our behaviors and expectations in order to accommodate changes to our health, sexual functioning, or relationships. The researchers suggest that while sexual function may change, these changes do not necessarily need to cause distress. Finding new ways to experience pleasure if dysfunctions arise as well as adopting a broad definition of sexual behavior can help to maintain positive sexual experiences throughout the lifespan."

Positive sexual aging emphasizes adapting to changing health, sexual functioning, and relationships while maintaining physical, psychological, and social vigor. Maintaining physical health, cognitive activity, and social well-being supports sexual well-being in later life. Sexual function may change without causing distress when individuals modify behaviors and expectations and find new ways to experience pleasure. A broad definition of sexual behavior allows non-intercourse activities and voluntary sexual inactivity to count as positive sexual aging when chosen contentedly by couples. The Brief Positive Sexual Aging Scale (BIPAS) captures multiple components, including sexual agency and other factors that contribute to sexual well-being.

Read at Psychology Today