Intimately Important

Quality of life is an essential aspect of aging well among older men and women. Taylor-Jane Flynn, from Caledonian University (Scotland), and colleagues studied 133 Scottish men and women, ages 65 and older, who were surveyed as to activities of intimacy in the past 6 months; and rated those behaviors as to their importance.  The team found that those older adults who value sexual activity and engage in it have better social lives and psychological well-being.  The study authors submit that: “with ageing trends, a broader understanding of the factors that influence quality of life in older adults is increasingly important. The current findings suggest that aspects of sexual behaviour and quality of life were positively associated.”