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More older Americans are open to the idea of non-marital sex, or sex between unmarried partners, according to a survey conducted by AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons. The advocacy organization for Americans age 50-plus surveyed 1,670 people age 45 and above in 2009 on a number of topics related to sexual attitudes and practices. Similar AARP surveys were conducted in 1999 and 2004.In 2009, 22 percent of respondents said non-marital sex was wrong, down from 41 percent in the 1999 survey. In the new survey, 28 percent reported intercourse at least once a week, and 40 percent at least once a month - both figures down about 10 percent from 2004.
Just 12 percent of single men reported using condoms. The elderly should not ignore STD risks, cautioned Pepper Schwartz, AARP's sex and relationship expert and a University of Washington sociologist.
In 2009, 43 percent reported their sexual life was satisfying, down from 51 percent in 2004. However, those in non-marital partnerships had sex more frequently and with more satisfaction than those who were married.
"These long-term married couples may get a little less interested," Schwartz said. "Older people in non-married relations work harder at it and enjoy it more," she said. "The big difference as people age is not that sex becomes less important but that a partner becomes less accessible."
Asked what would improve sexual satisfaction, 20 percent of women and 37 percent of men said better health. Better personal finances were cited by 14 percent of women and 26 percent of men as a potential boost.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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