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Dyadic adjustment, sexuality and psychological distress in older couples

2010; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 25; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/14681991003702583

1468-1994

Gilles Trudel, L. Villeneuve, Michel Préville, Richard Boyer, Virginie Fréchette,

Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health

The following study gives results on the association between psychological distress and sexual and marital aspects from the Quebec Health Survey of Older Couples (Enquête sur la santé des aînés au Québec/Volet Couple). In this study, 508 francophone couples (508 women, 508 men), aged 65 years old and over, answered several questionnaires about psychological distress (e.g. Psychological Distress Index) and marital (e.g. Dyadic adjustment scale) and sexual aspects of their life (e.g. Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory, International Index of Erectile Function, Female Sexual Function Index). Participants answered general questions at home in the presence of an interviewer and they answered to specific questionnaires about their sexuality and marital life on a computer to ensure confidentiality. Results indicate that dyadic adjustment, sexual satisfaction and gender predict psychological distress and explain 14.2% of the variance of psychological distress among older couples. The same predictor variables were found in men and women considered separately. Moreover, participants with low marital functioning show more than twice as much psychological distress and poorer sexual functioning.