Poster Session 08 Program Schedule
02/16/2024
01:45 pm - 03:00 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)
Poster Session 08: Cognition | Cognitive Reserve Variables
Final Abstract #50
Cognition and Sexual Wellbeing: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Lex Minto, Georgia State University, Atlanta, United States
Paul Verhaeghen, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, United States
Vonetta Dotson, Georgia State University, Atlanta, United States
Category: Aging
Keyword 1: cognitive screening
Keyword 2: quality of life
Objective:
Maintaining physical, mental, and social health are vital parts of healthy aging and good quality of life. Sexual wellbeing, which includes sexual activity and sexual satisfaction, is a common component of social health. While there is often a negative stigma surrounding the sexual lives of older adults, involvement in sexual relationships is still prevalent in late life. Yet, cognitive decline and other health risk factors may be associated with reduced sexual wellbeing. This systematic review and meta-analysis explored the relationship between cognition and sexual wellbeing in older adults.
Participants and Methods:
Three-level meta-analytic models were used on cross-sectional data in a predominately older adult sample across 13 peer-reviewed studies. Moderator analyses were also performed to examine the roles that age, sex, and health factors of physical activity and vascular conditions may play in this relationship.
Results:
Global cognition, predominately measured by cognitive screening measures, was significantly positively associated with sexual wellbeing (Hedges’ g = 0.21). Additionally, effect size was significantly moderated by the sex and physical activity level of study participants such that men and physically active older adults had a greater association between changes in global cognition and sexual wellbeing.
Conclusions:
Overall, these findings suggest that older adults with better cognition are more likely to have increased sexual wellbeing. Future longitudinal studies that explore potential protective effects of sexual wellbeing on cognition or, conversely, explore changes in sexual wellbeing resulting from cognitive changes, may provide additional information about the directionality of this relationship, and may serve to aid in treatment recommendations for individuals with worsening cognition or reduced sexual wellbeing.
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