OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to understand the association between sense of purpose in life and sexual well-being in a cohort of midlife women. METHODS: Participation in partnered sexual activities and indicators of sexual well-being (the engagement in and enjoyment of sexually intimate activities) were measured in a longitudinal cohort of 677 eligible women aged 40 to 65 years. At a single time point, women completed the Life Engagement Test, a measure of life purpose. Univariable and multivariable mixed models were used to assess the association between the Life Engagement Test and longitudinal sexual well-being. RESULTS: A higher sense of purpose in life was associated with higher levels of enjoyment (coefficient = 2.89, P < 0.001) but not with participation in partnered sexual activity (coefficient = 0.49, P = 0.63) or engagement in partnered sexually intimate activities (coefficient = 1.0, P = 0.30). Participation was associated with younger age, lower body mass index, being married, reporting any vaginal dryness, and better emotional well-being. Hormone therapy use approached, but did not reach significance in association with participation, with P = 0.05. Engagement in sexually intimate activities was associated with younger age, more social support, and better emotional well-being. Higher levels of enjoyment were associated with more social support, better emotional well-being, and less vaginal dryness. Menopause status was not associated with engagement or enjoyment, and only being 5 years or more postmenopausal was related to decreased participation. CONCLUSIONS: Higher sense of purpose in life is associated with more enjoyment of sexually intimate activities, adjusting for other known factors that influence sexual well-being and independent of demographic factors and menopause or hormone therapy status.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to understand the association between sense of purpose in life and sexual well-being in a cohort of midlife women. METHODS: Participation in partnered sexual activities and indicators of sexual well-being (the engagement in and enjoyment of sexually intimate activities) were measured in a longitudinal cohort of 677 eligible women aged 40 to 65 years. At a single time point, women completed the Life Engagement Test, a measure of life purpose. Univariable and multivariable mixed models were used to assess the association between the Life Engagement Test and longitudinal sexual well-being. RESULTS: A higher sense of purpose in life was associated with higher levels of enjoyment (coefficient = 2.89, P < 0.001) but not with participation in partnered sexual activity (coefficient = 0.49, P = 0.63) or engagement in partnered sexually intimate activities (coefficient = 1.0, P = 0.30). Participation was associated with younger age, lower body mass index, being married, reporting any vaginal dryness, and better emotional well-being. Hormone therapy use approached, but did not reach significance in association with participation, with P = 0.05. Engagement in sexually intimate activities was associated with younger age, more social support, and better emotional well-being. Higher levels of enjoyment were associated with more social support, better emotional well-being, and less vaginal dryness. Menopause status was not associated with engagement or enjoyment, and only being 5 years or more postmenopausal was related to decreased participation. CONCLUSIONS: Higher sense of purpose in life is associated with more enjoyment of sexually intimate activities, adjusting for other known factors that influence sexual well-being and independent of demographic factors and menopause or hormone therapy status.
Authors: Carol D Ryff; Gayle Dienberg Love; Heather L Urry; Daniel Muller; Melissa A Rosenkranz; Elliot M Friedman; Richard J Davidson; Burton Singer Journal: Psychother Psychosom Date: 2006 Impact factor: 17.659
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Authors: Hugh S Taylor; Aya Tal; Lubna Pal; Fangyong Li; Dennis M Black; Eliot A Brinton; Matthew J Budoff; Marcelle I Cedars; Wei Du; Howard N Hodis; Rogerio A Lobo; JoAnn E Manson; George R Merriam; Virginia M Miller; Frederick Naftolin; Genevieve Neal-Perry; Nanette F Santoro; Sherman M Harman Journal: JAMA Intern Med Date: 2017-10-01 Impact factor: 21.873