David Warner, University of Alabama Birmingham

This seminar is hosted by the Southern Population Aging Research Center (SPARC) and co-organized by the Maryland Population Research Center (MPRC).

Presentation Title: Unmet Sexual Desire and Subsequent Loneliness among Married Older Couples

About the Presentation

Older married couples continue to engage in sexual activity, which has been linked to better physical and mental health. Sexual activity, however, is only one component of sexual expression. Older couples vary considerably in their sexual expression when behaviors, desires, and attitudes are considered simultaneously, and objectively low levels of sexual activity may or may not align with expectations. The implications of such incongruence for well-being are unclear. Using longitudinal data on married heterosexual couples from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), I address this gap by examining how couple-level sexual expression predicts subsequent loneliness using latent class analysis with distal outcomes. Findings show that less-than-desired sexual activity—not simply low frequency—is associated with higher subsequent loneliness among both wives and husbands. This association is strongest among those reporting poor marital quality. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of evaluating sexual behavior in the context of expectations when considering its implications for well-being.

About the Speaker

David F. Warner, PhD is Professor of Sociology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Co-Director of the Southern Population Aging Research Center (SPARC), and Editor-in-Chief of Population Research and Policy Review. He earned his PhD in Sociology and Demography (Dual-Title) from Penn State and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A medical sociologist and social demographer, Warner has expertise in health, aging, families, and the life course. His interdisciplinary, team-science research has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals spanning sociology, gerontology, human development, health services, neurology, and family medicine. This work has been funded by the NIA, AHRQ, and CDC. His current research examines how social and relationship contexts shape health and well-being among older adults. He regularly teaches courses on social statistics, multilevel and longitudinal analysis, and quantitative research design.

Seminar Format:

Location ONLINE VIA ZOOM: Zoom registration linkUpon registration, you will receive an automatically generated email with the direct link for the seminar

If accommodations are needed, please send a request to the meeting organizer (mprc-support@umd.edu) at least 72 hours prior to the event, if possible, to allow time to discuss and implement alternatives.