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. 2017 Sep 13;7(9):e016942. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016942

Table 1.

Factors associated with lacking interest in having sex for at least 3 months in the past year in sexually active men and women

Men Women p Value for interaction with sex*
Denom. (unwt, wt) % (95% CI) Age-adjusted OR (95% CI) p Value Denom. (unwt, wt) % (95% CI) Age-adjusted OR (95% CI) p Value
All 4839, 5973 15.0 (13.9 to 16.2) 6669, 5755 34.2 (32.8 to 35.5)
Sociodemographics
Age group (years) 0.0471 <0.0001 0.6733
 16–24 1279, 936 11.5 (9.4 to 14.0) 1 1662, 923 24.8 (22.5 to 27.1) 1
 25–34 1376, 1238 14.6 (12.7 to 16.6) 1.32 (1.00 to 1.73) 2236, 1246 31.9 (29.8 to 34.1) 1.42 (1.22 to 1.66)
 35–44 719, 1298 17.2 (14.5 to 20.4) 1.61 (1.19 to 2.18) 1050, 1290 36.8 (33.7 to 40.1) 1.77 (1.48 to 2.13)
 45–54 630, 1186 15.3 (12.5 to 18.7) 1.40 (1.01 to 1.95) 871, 1186 37.9 (34.5 to 41.5) 1.86 (1.53 to 2.25)
 55–64 512, 849 16.5 (13.4 to 20.2) 1.53 (1.10 to 2.13) 569, 755 38.8 (34.5 to 43.2) 1.92 (1.55 to 2.39)
 65–74 323, 467 13.9 (10.4 to 18.3) 1.22 (0.81 to 1.82) 281, 355 34.2 (28.4 to 40.5) 1.58 (1.18 to 2.12)
Index of Multiple Deprivation (quintiles)† 0.093 0.0316 0.0111
 1 (least deprived) 977, 1279 13.9 (11.6 to 16.6) 1 1248, 1208 35.7 (32.6 to 38.9) 1
 2 962, 1264 13.0 (10.8 to 15.6) 0.93 (0.69 to 1.25) 1290, 1208 33.6 (30.6 to 36.7) 0.92 (0.76 to 1.13)
 3 942, 1169 18.0 (15.2 to 21.2) 1.38 (1.04 to 1.85) 1299, 1116 30.1 (27.2 to 33.2) 0.81 (0.66 to 0.99)
 4 967, 1184 15.3 (12.8 to 18.3) 1.15 (0.86 to 1.55) 1384, 1137 35.9 (33.0 to 39.0) 1.08 (0.89 to 1.30)
 5 (most deprived) 991, 1077 15.1 (12.7 to 17.8) 1.14 (0.85 to 1.52) 1448, 1086 35.3 (32.4 to 38.3) 1.06 (0.87 to 1.28)
Education level‡ 0.0083 0.2453 0.2914
 Left school aged 17+ 2862, 3464 13.5 (12.1 to 15.1) 1 4150, 3406 32.7 (31.0 to 34.5) 1
 Left school at 16 1873, 2437 17.2 (15.3 to 19.4) 1.31 (1.07 to 1.60) 2409, 2287 36.6 (34.4 to 38.9) 1.08 (0.95 to 1.23)
Employment status 0.0086 0.0003 0.0766
 Employed 3211, 4254 14.7 (13.3 to 16.1) 1 3871, 3517 34.6 (32.9 to 36.4) 1
 Full-time education 542, 431 12.6 (8.8 to 17.5) 0.98 (0.64 to 1.51) 693, 423 22.5 (19.0 to 26.4) 0.70 (0.55 to 0.89)
 Unemployed 707, 723 19.6 (16.3 to 23.4) 1.44 (1.12 to 1.86) 1681, 1282 36.1 (33.4 to 39.0) 1.11 (0.96 to 1.28)
 Retired 375, 562 13.6 (10.4 to 17.7) 0.75 (0.52 to 1.09) 415, 524 35.8 (31.0 to 40.9) 0.75 (0.57 to 0.99)
Practises religion at least once a month 0.1687 0.0082 0.9966
 No 4283, 5179 15.3 (14.1 to 16.6) 1 5659, 4754 34.8 (33.3 to 36.3) 1
 Yes 521, 748 12.9 (10.0 to 16.4) 0.81 (0.60 to 1.09) 956, 945 30.7 (27.5 to 34.2) 0.79 (0.67 to 0.94)
Health
Self-reported general health <0.0001 <0.0001 0.1890
 Very good/good 4123, 5055 13.4 (12.2 to 14.6) 1 5683, 4851 32.3 (30.9 to 33.8) 1
 Fair 580, 745 21.9 (18.3 to 25.8) 1.8 (1.41 to 2.30) 780, 709 42.2 (38.2 to 46.3) 1.45 (1.21 to 1.75)
 Bad/very bad 135, 171 33.9 (25.3 to 43.6) 3.29 (2.14 to 5.06) 206, 195 49.9 (42.2 to 57.7) 1.93 (1.40 to 2.67)
Difficulty walking up stairs because of a health problem <0.0001 0.0497 0.1179
 No difficulty 4475, 5460 14.1 (12.9 to 15.3) 1 6062, 5107 33.3 (31.8 to 34.7) 1
 Some difficulty 278, 393 23.0 (18.1 to 28.8) 1.8 (1.30 to 2.49) 450, 482 39.2 (34.4 to 44.2) 1.15 (0.92 to 1.43)
 Much difficulty/unable to do this 86, 120 30.9 (20.9 to 43.0) 2.68 (1.57 to 4.57) 157, 166 47.0 (38.0 to 56.1) 1.55 (1.06 to 2.25)
Long-standing illness or disability <0.0001 <0.0001 0.1348
 No 3585, 4259 12.8 (11.6 to 14.2) 1 4843, 4026 31.6 (30.0 to 33.2) 1
 Yes 1253, 1713 20.5 (18.1 to 23.1) 1.76 (1.44 to 2.16) 1825, 1729 40.1 (37.5 to 42.8) 1.35 (1.17 to 1.55)
Number of comorbid conditions§ <0.0001 <0.0001 0.7951
 0 3453, 3994 12.8 (11.5 to 14.1) 1 4357, 3536 29.9 (28.2 to 31.5) 1
 1 939, 1329 18.9 (16.2 to 21.9) 1.64 (1.30 to 2.06) 1555, 1416 38.6 (35.9 to 41.5) 1.42 (1.23 to 1.64)
 ≥2 446, 650 21.0 (17.0 to 25.6) 1.91 (1.41 to 2.60) 755, 802 45.1 (41.2 to 49.1) 1.75 (1.45 to 2.13)
Depressive symptoms¶ <0.0001 <0.0001 0.6249
 No 4383, 5471 13.5 (12.4 to 14.8) 1 5885, 5149 31.7 (30.2 to 33.1) 1
 Yes 449, 495 31.3 (26.4 to 36.7) 2.95 (2.26 to 3.85) 780, 602 55.2 (51.0 to 59.5) 2.79 (2.32 to 3.37)
Treated for depression, past year <0.0001 <0.0001 0.2447
 No 4524, 5630 14.0 (12.9 to 15.2) 1 5770, 5040 31.7 (30.2 to 33.2) 1
 Yes 313, 342 31.5 (25.7 to 38.0) 2.82 (2.08 to 3.83) 897, 713 51.4 (47.6 to 55.2) 2.32 (1.96 to 2.75)
Menopausal status 0.9326
 Not menopausal 5485, 4187 32.3 (30.9 to 33.8) 1
 Menopausal 1167, 1548 38.9 (36.0 to 41.9) 0.99 (0.79 to 1.24)
Circumcised 0.5951
 No 3909, 4728 15.1 (13.8 to 16.4) 1
 Yes 857, 1166 14.5 (12.0 to 17.4) 0.94 (0.73 to 1.20)
Sexual behaviour
Number of occasions of sex, past four weeks <0.0001 <0.0001 0.4778
 0 1013, 1163 20.7 (17.8 to 23.8) 1 1408, 1245 42.9 (39.9 to 45.9) 1
 1–2 1160, 1566 18.7 (16.2 to 21.5) 0.89 (0.69 to 1.14) 1481, 1373 39.6 (36.7 to 42.5) 0.89 (0.75 to 1.05)
 3–4 870, 1168 12.4 (10.1 to 15.1) 0.54 (0.41 to 0.73) 1240, 1130 33.8 (30.7 to 37.0) 0.7 (0.58 to 0.85)
 5+ 1617, 1869 9.2 (7.8 to 11.0) 0.39 (0.30 to 0.51) 2078, 1655 22.6 (20.5 to 24.8) 0.41 (0.34 to 0.49)
Masturbation, past four weeks 0.0458 0.0038 0.0005
 No 1297, 1828 13.7 (11.8 to 15.8) 1 4032, 3612 36.0 (34.3 to 37.7) 1
 Yes 3531, 4132 15.6 (14.2 to 17.0) 1.24 (1.00 to 1.52) 2615, 2114 30.8 (28.7 to 33.0) 0.83 (0.73 to 0.94)
Number of sexual partners, past year** 0.5348 0.0038 0.0183
 1 3573, 4824 15.0 (13.7 to 16.3) 1 5440, 5012 35.3 (33.8 to 36.8) 1
 2 539, 513 16.2 (12.9 to 20.3) 1.14 (0.86 to 1.52) 570, 364 28.2 (23.9 to 32.8) 0.80 (0.63 to 1.01)
 3+ 718, 627 13.6 (11.1 to 16.6) 0.94 (0.72 to 1.22) 642, 366 24.8 (21.0 to 29.0) 0.70 (0.56 to 0.88)
Paid for sex, past year 0.7167
 No 4774, 5896 15.0 (13.9 to 16.2) 1
 Yes 64, 75 13.4 (6.8 to 24.7) 0.87 (0.41 to 1.84)
Ever taken drugs to assist sexual performance 0.0175 0.0666 0.8967
 No 4188, 5180 14.4 (13.2 to 15.7) 1 6478, 5624 34.0 (32.6 to 35.4) 1
 Yes 636, 776 19.0 (15.7 to 22.8) 1.36 (1.06 to 1.76) 184, 124 40.0 (32.0 to 48.5) 1.39 (0.98 to 1.96)
Relationship context
Relationship status 0.0383 <0.0001 0.0001
 Living with partner 2708, 4266 15.5 (14.1 to 17.1) 1 3967, 4168 37.9 (36.3 to 39.7) 1
 In a steady relationship, not living together 947, 760 12.0 (9.6 to 14.8) 0.76 (0.57 to 1.00) 1360, 790 22.6 (20.2 to 25.2) 0.51 (0.43 to 0.60)
 Not in a steady relationship, but previously cohabited 446, 388 18.2 (14.6 to 22.5) 1.22 (0.91 to 1.62) 752, 462 28.9 (25.4 to 32.8) 0.68 (0.56 to 0.83)
 Not in a steady relationship, never cohabited 727, 551 12.4 (9.9 to 15.5) 0.8 (0.58 to 1.09) 580, 330 21.3 (17.6 to 25.5) 0.49 (0.38 to 0.63)
Duration of most recent sexual relationship (years) 0.494 <0.0001 <0.0001
 ≤1  1462, 1260 13.0 (11.0 to 15.3) 1 1597, 998 21.5 (19.1 to 24.1) 1
 Between 1 and 5  1247, 1227 15.3 (13.2 to 17.7) 1.21 (0.94 to 1.55) 1758, 1148 28.5 (26.1 to 31.0) 1.45 (1.20 to 1.76)
 Between 5 and 15  1065, 1484 14.9 (12.6 to 17.5) 1.14 (0.86 to 1.50) 1774, 1458 39.8 (37.2 to 42.4) 2.37 (1.96 to 2.86)
 >15  1004, 1904 16.1 (13.9 to 18.7) 1.19 (0.87 to 1.63) 1445, 2036 40.0 (37.3 to 42.7) 2.31 (1.84 to 2.91)
Always easy to talk about sex with partners†† 0.0001 <0.0001 0.0182
 Yes 1695, 1899 11.5 (9.7 to 13.5) 1 1746, 1451 22.6 (20.4 to 25.1) 1
 No/other 3122, 4048 16.7 (15.3 to 18.2) 1.53 (1.23 to 1.90) 4907, 4289 38.0 (36.4 to 39.6) 2.06 (1.77 to 2.39)
Happy with relationship‡‡ <0.0001 <0.0001 0.8679
 Yes 1951, 2791 12.6 (11.0 to 14.4) 1 2736, 2601 31.5 (29.5 to 33.6) 1
 Other 995, 1430 21.0 (18.4 to 23.9) 1.85 (1.47 to 2.32) 1640, 1617 45.4 (42.7 to 48.1) 1.79 (1.55 to 2.08)
Participant does not share same level of interest in sex as partner 0.2339 <0.0001 <0.0001
 No/other 2270, 3233 15.0 (13.4 to 16.7) 1 3211, 3064 27.2 (25.4 to 29.0) 1
 Yes 676, 988 17.1 (14.2 to 20.4) 1.17 (0.90 to 1.51) 1166, 1155 62.5 (59.2 to 65.7) 4.57 (3.87 to 5.38)
Participant does not share same sexual likes and dislikes as partner 0.4188 <0.0001 <0.0001
 No/other 2650, 3803 15.3 (13.8 to 16.9) 1 4079, 3908 34.9 (33.3 to 36.6) 1
 Yes 296, 418 17.3 (13.0 to 22.5) 1.16 (0.81 to 1.66) 297, 310 61.0 (54.6 to 67.2) 2.91 (2.22 to 3.83)
Partner experienced sexual difficulties in the past year 0.0136 <0.0001 0.4140
 No/other 2431, 3454 14.6 (13.1 to 16.2) 1 3726, 3498 34.8 (33.1 to 36.6) 1
 Yes 513, 763 19.4 (15.8 to 23.6) 1.41 (1.07 to 1.86) 649, 719 46.8 (42.5 to 51.1) 1.60 (1.32 to 1.94)
Does not feel emotionally close to partner when having sex 0.0006 <0.0001 0.5972
 No/other 2904, 4165 15.1 (13.7 to 16.6) 1 4263, 4108 35.9 (34.3 to 37.6) 1
 Yes 42, 56 39.9 (23.6 to 58.8) 3.74 (1.76 to 7.93) 112, 109 73.0 (62.8 to 81.3) 4.80 (2.99 to 7.69)
Lifestyle
1+child(ren) aged <5 in household 0.9088 <0.0001 0.0216
 No, none 4100, 5015 15.2 (13.9 to 16.5) 1 4997, 4671 33.1 (31.6 to 34.6) 1
 Yes, 1+ 727, 941 14.5 (11.9 to 17.6) 0.98 (0.76 to 1.28) 1664, 1074 38.6 (36.0 to 41.4) 1.55 (1.34 to 1.79)
Pregnant in the last year 0.0114
 No 4227, 4122 36.2 (34.6 to 37.9) 1
 Yes 437, 273 41.7 (36.6 to 47.1) 1.36 (1.07 to 1.72)
Used hormonal contraceptive, past year 0.05
 No 3759, 3838 34.8 (33.1 to 36.5) 1
 Yes 2806, 1831 33.0 (30.9 to 35.1) 1.15 (1.00 to 1.33)
Sexual health indicators
Ever diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection <0.0001 0.0004 0.0651
 No (or only thrush) 4147, 5127 14.0 (12.8 to 15.3) 1 5455, 4861 33.4 (31.9 to 34.9) 1
 Yes (excluding thrush) 677, 830 21.4 (18.1 to 25.0) 1.67 (1.33 to 2.10) 1206, 888 38.2 (35.1 to 41.5) 1.32 (1.13 to 1.54)
Ever experienced non-volitional sex 0.0010 <0.0001 0.3164
 No 4705, 5824 14.7 (13.6 to 16.0) 1 5815, 5055 32.8 (31.4 to 34.2) 1
 Yes/don’t know 133, 148 26.1 (18.9 to 34.9) 2.07 (1.34 to 3.18) 848, 695 44.3 (40.5 to 48.3) 1.66 (1.40 to 1.97)
Sexual competence at first sex§§ 0.0706 <0.0001 0.1797
 Not competent 2407, 3037 16.2 (14.6 to 17.9) 1 3438, 2927 37.6 (35.7 to 39.5) 1
 Competent 2302, 2784 13.7 (12.1 to 15.4) 0.84 (0.69 to 1.01) 3097, 2716 30.3 (28.4 to 32.3) 0.73 (0.65 to 0.83)
Number of other sexual response problems experienced¶¶ <0.0001 <0.0001 0.0015
 0 3208, 3945 11.7 (10.5 to 13.1) 1 4377, 3759 25.3 (23.8 to 26.9) 1
 1 1061, 1350 10.9 (9.0 to 13.2) 0.91 (0.71 to 1.17) 1217, 1087 34.8 (31.7 to 38.0) 1.55 (1.32 to 1.82)
 2+ 570, 678 42.5 (37.9 to 47.2) 5.58 (4.41 to 7.04) 1075, 909 69.8 (66.5 to 72.9) 6.91 (5.82 to 8.21)
Attitudes
People are under pressure to have sex 0.0115 0.0001 0.7970
 Else 1799, 2264 13.1 (11.4 to 15.0) 1 1851, 1570 29.3 (26.8 to 31.9) 1
 Strongly agree/agree 3038, 3707 16.2 (14.7 to 17.8) 1.29 (1.06 to 1.57) 4817, 4185 36.0 (34.4 to 37.6) 1.34 (1.16 to 1.54)
People want less sex as they age <0.0001 <0.0001 0.9443
 Else 2943, 3472 11.4 (10.2 to 12.8) 1 4044, 3278 27.8 (26.2 to 29.4) 1
 Strongly agree/agree 1894, 2499 20.0 (18.0 to 22.2) 1.93 (1.61 to 2.32) 2624, 2477 42.6 (40.4 to 44.8) 1.85 (1.63 to 2.10)
Men have a naturally higher sex drive than women <0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001
 Else 2788, 3441 18.0 (16.4 to 19.7) 1 3351, 2830 26.0 (24.3 to 27.8) 1
 Strongly agree/agree 2049, 2530 10.9 (9.4 to 12.6) 0.56 (0.46 to 0.68) 3317, 2925 42.0 (40.0 to 44.1) 2.04 (1.80 to 2.31)
Too much sex in the media 0.7069 0.1807 0.4835
 Else 1986, 2296 14.6 (12.8 to 16.6) 1 2091, 1618 31.7 (29.3 to 34.2) 1
 Strongly agree/agree 2851, 3675 15.3 (13.8 to 16.9) 1.04 (0.85 to 1.26) 4577, 4137 35.1 (33.5 to 36.8) 1.10 (0.96 to 1.26)

Denominator is those aged 16–74 years with at least one partner in the past year.

*p Value for interaction to determine whether the magnitude of association between each variable and lack of interest in sex differs between men and women.

†Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) is a multidimensional measure of area (neighbourhood)-level deprivation based on the participant’s postcode. IMD scores for England, Scotland and Wales were adjusted before being combined and assigned to quintiles, using a method by Payne and Abel.50

‡Participants aged≥17 years.

§Includes arthritis, heart attack, coronary heart disease, angina, other forms of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, broken hip or pelvis, bone or hip replacement ever, backache lasting >3 months, any other muscle or bone disease lasting >3 months, depression, cancer and any thyroid condition treated in the past year.

¶Participants were asked whether they had often been bothered by feeling down, depressed or hopeless in the past two weeks and whether they had often been bothered by little interest or pleasure in doing things in the past two weeks, using a validated two-question patient health questionnaire (PHQ-2).

**Opposite and/or same-sex partners.

††Other means easy with a husband or wife or regular partner, but difficult with a new partner; easy with a new partner, but difficult with a husband or wife or regular partner; difficult with any partner; it depends, sometimes easy and sometimes difficult.

‡‡Participants were asked to rate how happy they were in their relationship from 1 (very happy) to 7 (very unhappy); responses of 1 or 2 were regarded as denoting participants who were happy with their relationship.

§§A constructed variable to measure readiness, combining consensuality, autonomy of decision-making, timing and use of effective contraception.

¶¶Sexual response problems (for at least 3 months in the past year): lacked enjoyment in sex, felt anxious during sex, felt physical pain as a result of sex, felt no excitement or arousal during sex, difficulty in reaching climax, reached a climax more quickly than you would like, trouble getting or keep an erection (men), uncomfortably dry vagina (women).

Unwt, unweighted; wt, weighted.