Let’s talk about sex …. among older married individuals.

New research released at the Gerontological Society of America meeting found that the more often older married people engage in sexual activity, the more likely they are to be happy in their lives and in their marriage.

Seems like a no brainer, right?

 Adrienne Jackson, an assistant professor at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, said the study is important because it can help open up dialogue between healthcare providers and older Americans on barriers that may limit and prevent older adults from engaging from sexual activity.

Some gerontologists say many doctors do not broach this issue with their older patients. Creating awareness of the issue can help develop sexual health interventions for the aging population, Jackson said.

Jackson’s findings were based on a 2004-2008 public opinion poll of a nationally representative sample of English and Spanish-speaking adults living in the U.S. Based on the responses of 238 married individuals 65 and older, Jackson found frequency of sexual activity was a “significant predictor” of both general and marital happiness.

Here are some of the findings:

Forty percent who reported no sexual activity in the last 12 months said they were very happy with life in general. 

Sixty percent who had sex more than once a month said they were very happy.

About 59 percent who reported no sexual activity during the same time period said they were very happy with their marriage 

Eighty percent who had sex more than once a month said they were very happy with their marriage.