Washington, Dec 19 (IANS) Sexuality among older adults - between 57 to 85 years - tended to vary with age and gender, says a new study.
Men were more likely than women to have a partner, more likely to be sexually active with that partner, and tend to have more positive and permissive attitudes toward sex.

Similarly, men were more likely than women to report alcohol use, potential problem drinking. Alcohol use and smoking were also lower among older age groups.

This information has been provided by the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) study, focusing on social and cultural activity; history of sexual and intimate partnerships, among others, based on data gathered from interviews of 3,005 older adults (aged 57 to 85) between July 2005 and March 2006, said a NSHAP release.

“The NSHAP represents an extraordinary contribution to the study of aging, and published findings from it have already shed new light on critical issues in social gerontology - from abuse to sexuality,” said social scientist Kenneth F. Ferraro, editor of Journal of Gerontology, which published these findings.