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

Table 2.

Factors associated with lacking interest in having sex for at least 3 months in the past year and being distressed about it 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 8.2 (7.4 to 9.1) 6669, 5755 20.8 (19.6 to 22.0)
Sociodemographics
Age group (years) 0.0011 <0.0001 0.8971
 16–24 1279, 936 4.8 (3.7 to 6.4) 1 1662, 923 15.2 (13.4 to 17.3) 1
 25–34 1376, 1238 8.0 (6.7 to 9.5) 1.7 (1.19 to 2.41) 2236, 1246 20.9 (19.0 to 22.8) 1.47 (1.22 to 1.76)
 35–44 719, 1298 9.6 (7.5 to 12.3) 2.09 (1.40 to 3.13) 1050, 1290 22.9 (20.3 to 25.7) 1.65 (1.34 to 2.04)
 45–54 630, 1186 9.7 (7.4 to 12.6) 2.11 (1.38 to 3.22) 871, 1186 23.3 (20.4 to 26.6) 1.69 (1.35 to 2.13)
 55–64 512, 849 9.4 (7.0 to 12.6) 2.04 (1.30 to 3.21) 569, 755 21.8 (18.3 to 25.8) 1.55 (1.20 to 2.01)
 65–74 323, 467 5.5 (3.4 to 8.6) 1.13 (0.65 to 1.99) 281, 355 16.5 (12.4 to 21.7) 1.10 (0.76 to 1.59)
Index of Multiple Deprivation (quintiles)† 0.8339 0.0938 0.4592
 1 (least deprived) 977, 1279 8.1 (6.2 to 10.4) 1 1248, 1208 23.3 (20.7 to 26.1) 1
 2 962, 1264 7.4 (5.7 to 9.6) 0.92 (0.62 to 1.36) 1290, 1208 20.8 (18.2 to 23.5) 0.87 (0.69 to 1.09)
 3 942, 1169 8.3 (6.4 to 10.6) 1.05 (0.71 to 1.55) 1299, 1116 19.6 (17.1 to 22.4) 0.82 (0.65 to 1.03)
 4 967, 1184 8.8 (6.9 to 11.1) 1.14 (0.78 to 1.66) 1384, 1137 21.9 (19.3 to 24.7) 0.95 (0.76 to 1.18)
 5 (most deprived) 991, 1077 8.6 (6.7 to 10.9) 1.12 (0.75 to 1.65) 1448, 1086 18.2 (15.9 to 20.6) 0.75 (0.60 to 0.94)
Education level‡ 0.4958 0.7324 0.4496
 Left school aged 17+ 2862, 3464 7.9 (6.8 to 9.2) 1 4150, 3406 20.8 (19.4 to 22.4) 1
 Left school at 16 1873, 2437 8.8 (7.5 to 10.4) 1.09 (0.85 to 1.41) 2409, 2287 21.1 (19.3 to 23.1) 0.97 (0.83 to 1.14)
Employment status 0.0001 0.0003 0.1244
 Employed 3211, 4254 8.3 (7.3 to 9.5) 1 3871, 3517 21.6 (20.1 to 23.2) 1
 Full-time education 542, 431 4.9 (2.8 to 8.6) 0.74 (0.38 to 1.44) 693, 423 14.8 (11.8 to 18.4) 0.75 (0.56 to 1.01)
 Unemployed 707, 723 12.1 (9.5 to 15.3) 1.56 (1.14 to 2.13) 1681, 1282 22.3 (19.9 to 24.9) 1.07 (0.90 to 1.27)
 Retired 375, 562 4.9 (3.1 to 7.6) 0.41 (0.23 to 0.71) 415, 524 16.8 (13.4 to 20.8) 0.57 (0.41 to 0.79)
Practises religion at least once a month 0.1638 0.0167 0.8143
 No 4283, 5179 8.5 (7.5 to 9.5) 1 5659, 4754 21.5 (20.2 to 22.9) 1
 Yes 521, 748 6.4 (4.4 to 9.4) 0.73 (0.48 to 1.13) 956, 945 18.0 (15.3 to 20.9) 0.78 (0.63 to 0.96)
Health
Self-reported general health <0.0001 <0.0001 0.0969
 Very good/good 4123, 5055 7.0 (6.1 to 7.9) 1 5683, 4851 19.2 (18.0 to 20.5) 1
 Fair 580, 745 13.3 (10.5 to 16.8) 2.04 (1.50 to 2.78) 780, 709 27.9 (24.3 to 31.9) 1.60 (1.30 to 1.97)
 Bad/very bad 135, 171 22.6 (15.3 to 32.1) 3.85 (2.31 to 6.40) 206, 195 33.4 (26.3 to 41.4) 2.05 (1.45 to 2.91)
Difficulty walking up stairs because of a health problem 0.0001 0.0085 0.1553
 No difficulty 4475, 5460 7.6 (6.7 to 8.6) 1 6062, 5107 20.1 (18.9 to 21.4) 1
 Some difficulty 278, 393 12.3 (8.8 to 17.0) 1.67 (1.11 to 2.52) 450, 482 24.1 (20.0 to 28.7) 1.21 (0.93 to 1.59)
 Much difficulty/unable to do this 86, 120 22.2 (13.5 to 34.2) 3.36 (1.79 to 6.32) 157, 166 32.3 (24.3 to 41.5) 1.81 (1.21 to 2.70)
Long-standing illness or disability <0.0001 <0.0001 0.0345
 No 3585, 4259 6.5 (5.6 to 7.5) 1 4843, 4026 18.7 (17.4 to 20.0) 1
 Yes 1253, 1713 12.5 (10.6 to 14.8) 2.09 (1.60 to 2.74) 1825, 1729 25.7 (23.4 to 28.2) 1.48 (1.27 to 1.74)
Number of comorbid conditions§ <0.0001 <0.0001 0.5779
 0 3453, 3994 6.4 (5.5 to 7.5) 1 4357, 3536 17.3 (15.9 to 18.7) 1
 1 939, 1329 11.0 (9.0 to 13.4) 1.88 (1.37 to 2.57) 1555, 1416 24.1 (21.7 to 26.7) 1.54 (1.30 to 1.83)
 ≥2 446, 650 13.3 (10.1 to 17.4) 2.40 (1.61 to 3.59) 755, 802 30.5 (26.8 to 34.4) 2.16 (1.74 to 2.69)
Depressive symptoms¶ <0.0001 <0.0001 0.0370
 No 4383, 5471 6.8 (6.0 to 7.7) 1 5885, 5149 18.6 (17.4 to 19.8) 1
 Yes 449, 495 23.7 (19.3 to 28.9) 4.36 (3.20 to 5.94) 780, 602 39.6 (35.4 to 44.0) 2.94 (2.41 to 3.59)
Treated for depression, past year <0.0001 <0.0001 0.0371
 No 4524, 5630 7.3 (6.5 to 8.2) 1 5770, 5040 18.5 (17.3 to 19.8) 1
 Yes 313, 342 23.0 (17.9 to 29.1) 3.81 (2.71 to 5.36) 897, 713 36.4 (32.9 to 40.2) 2.54 (2.12 to 3.03)
Menopausal status 0.9656
 Not menopausal 5485, 4187 20.2 (18.9 to 21.5) 1
 Menopausal 1167, 1548 22.5 (20.0 to 25.2) 1.01 (0.76 to 1.32)
Circumcised 0.4097
 No 3909, 4728 8.3 (7.4 to 9.4) 1
 Yes 857, 1166 7.5 (5.7 to 9.9) 0.87 (0.62 to 1.22)
Sexual behaviour
Number of occasions of sex, past four weeks <0.0001 <0.0001 0.5496
 0 1013, 1163 10.3 (8.3 to 12.7) 1 1408, 1245 23.2 (20.7 to 26.0) 1
 1–2 1160, 1566 10.5 (8.6 to 12.8) 1.02 (0.74 to 1.42) 1481, 1373 24.2 (21.8 to 26.9) 1.06 (0.87 to 1.30)
 3–4 870, 1168 7.4 (5.6 to 9.8) 0.71 (0.48 to 1.04) 1240, 1130 21.3 (18.7 to 24.2) 0.91 (0.73 to 1.13)
 5+ 1617, 1869 5.0 (3.9 to 6.4) 0.46 (0.33 to 0.66) 2078, 1655 14.7 (12.9 to 16.7) 0.58 (0.47 to 0.72)
Masturbation, past four weeks 0.0164 0.7265 0.0309
 No 1297, 1828 6.9 (5.5 to 8.6) 1 4032, 3612 21.1 (19.6 to 22.6) 1
 Yes 3531, 4132 8.8 (7.7 to 9.9) 1.42 (1.07 to 1.88) 2615, 2114 20.3 (18.4 to 22.2) 0.97 (0.84 to 1.13)
Number of sexual partners, past year** 0.2466 0.0016 0.4744
 1 3573, 4824 8.5 (7.5 to 9.6) 1 5440, 5012 21.6 (20.3 to 22.9) 1
 2 539, 513 6.3 (4.3 to 9.1) 0.75 (0.49 to 1.14) 570, 364 16.7 (13.3 to 20.6) 0.75 (0.57 to 0.99)
 3+ 718, 627 6.8 (5.1 to 9.0) 0.82 (0.59 to 1.15) 642, 366 14.1 (11.0 to 17.7) 0.62 (0.46 to 0.83)
Paid for sex, past year 0.4865
 No 4774, 5896 8.2 (7.4 to 9.2) 1
 Yes 64, 75 5.6 (1.8 to 16.4) 0.66 (0.20 to 2.15)
Ever taken drugs to assist sexual performance 0.0022 0.1055 0.5305
 No 4188, 5180 7.6 (6.7 to 8.6) 1 6478, 5624 20.6 (19.5 to 21.8) 1
 Yes 636, 776 12.1 (9.5 to 15.4) 1.63 (1.19 to 2.23) 184, 124 25.9 (19.2 to 33.9) 1.38 (0.93 to 2.05)
Relationship status 0.03 <0.0001 0.0307
 Living with partner 2708, 4266 8.8 (7.7 to 10.1) 1 3967, 4168 23.4 (21.9 to 24.9) 1
 In a steady relationship, not living together 947, 760 6.9 (5.3 to 9.0) 0.78 (0.56 to 1.09) 1360, 790 15.4 (13.4 to 17.7) 0.59 (0.49 to 0.71)
 Not in a steady relationship, but previously cohabited 446, 388 8.8 (6.2 to 12.2) 1.00 (0.67 to 1.48) 752, 462 13.6 (11.1 to 16.6) 0.51 (0.40 to 0.66)
 Not in a steady relationship, never cohabited 727, 551 4.7 (3.3 to 6.8) 0.52 (0.34 to 0.81) 580, 330 11.0 (8.2 to 14.5) 0.39 (0.28 to 0.55)
Duration of most recent sexual relationship (years) 0.0143 <0.0001 0.0719
 ≤1 1462, 1260 5.5 (4.3 to 7.1) 1 1597, 998 11.2 (9.4 to 13.2) 1
 Between 1 and 5 1247, 1227 9.0 (7.3 to 11.0) 1.67 (1.18 to 2.36) 1758, 1148 18.5 (16.5 to 20.7) 1.81 (1.44 to 2.29)
 Between 5 and 15  1065, 1484 9.3 (7.5 to 11.6) 1.68 (1.17 to 2.43) 1774, 1458 25.2 (23.0 to 27.6) 2.81 (2.23 to 3.55)
 >15  1004, 1904 8.8 (7.1 to 10.8) 1.47 (0.97 to 2.22) 1445, 2036 23.8 (21.5 to 26.2) 2.83 (2.13 to 3.75)
Always easy to talk about sex with partners†† 0 <0.0001 0.4854
 Yes 1695, 1899 4.8 (3.8 to 6.0) 1 1746, 1451 11.4 (9.7 to 13.2) 1
 No/other 3122, 4048 9.8 (8.7 to 11.1) 2.15 (1.62 to 2.87) 4907, 4289 23.9 (22.5 to 25.3) 2.43 (2.02 to 2.93)
Happy with relationship‡‡ <0.0001 <0.0001 0.9717
 Yes 1951, 2791 7.1 (5.9 to 8.6) 1 2736, 2601 18.6 (16.9 to 20.4) 1
 Other 995, 1430 13.3 (11.2 to 15.8) 2.01 (1.51 to 2.66) 1640, 1617 31.4 (28.8 to 34.0) 2.00 (1.69 to 2.37)
Participant does not share same level of interest in sex as partner 0.0311 <0.0001
 No/other 2270, 3233 8.5 (7.2 to 10.0) 1 3211, 3064 15.0 (13.6 to 16.4) 1
 Yes 676, 988 11.6 (9.2 to 14.4) 1.41 (1.03 to 1.92) 1166, 1155 46.2 (42.9 to 49.6) 4.91 (4.13 to 5.83)
Participant does not share same sexual likes and dislikes as partner 0.0975 <0.0001 0.0212
 No/other 2650, 3803 8.9 (7.7 to 10.2) 1 4079, 3908 22.1 (20.6 to 23.6) 1
 Yes 296, 418 12.2 (8.6 to 17.0) 1.43 (0.94 to 2.18) 297, 310 41.9 (35.6 to 48.6) 2.55 (1.93 to 3.37)
Partner experienced sexual difficulties in the past year 0.0027 <0.0001 0.6889
 No/other 2431, 3454 8.3 (7.2 to 9.6) 1 3726, 3498 22.1 (20.6 to 23.7) 1
 Yes 513, 763 13.2 (10.2 to 17.0) 1.68 (1.20 to 2.35) 649, 719 30.4 (26.5 to 34.6) 1.58 (1.27 to 1.95)
Does not feel emotionally close to partner when having sex 0.0225 <0.0001 0.8228
 No/other 2904, 4165 9.1 (7.9 to 10.3) 1 4263, 4108 22.9 (21.5 to 24.4) 1
 Yes 42, 56 21.0 (10.2 to 38.3) 2.69 (1.15 to 6.29) 112, 109 47.0 (36.4 to 57.8) 2.98 (1.92 to 4.63)
Lifestyle
1+child(ren) aged<5 in household 0.1047 0.0004 0.0042
 No, none 4100, 5015 8.6 (7.6 to 9.6) 1 4997, 4671 20.2 (18.9 to 21.5) 1
 Yes, 1+ 727, 941 6.3 (4.6 to 8.5) 0.75 (0.52 to 1.06) 1664, 1074 23.5 (21.2 to 25.9) 1.34 (1.14 to 1.58)
Pregnant in the last year 0.5927
 No 4227, 4122 21.8 (20.4 to 23.4) 1
 Yes 437, 273 20.7 (16.6 to 25.6) 0.92 (0.69 to 1.24)
Used hormonal contraceptive, past year 0.1141
 No 3759, 3838 20.7 (19.2 to 22.3) 1
 Yes 2806, 1831 20.9 (19.1 to 22.7) 1.14 (0.97 to 1.35)
Sexual health indicators
Ever diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection <0.0001 0.0002 0.0291
 No (or only thrush) 4148, 5128 7.3 (6.5 to 8.3) 1 5455, 4861 20.0 (18.7 to 21.3) 1
 Yes (excluding thrush) 677, 830 13.7 (11.0 to 17.0) 2.02 (1.51 to 2.70) 1206, 888 25.1 (22.3 to 28.1) 1.39 (1.16 to 1.65)
Ever experienced non-volitional sex <0.0001 <0.0001 0.1143
 No 4706, 5825 7.9 (7.1 to 8.9) 1 5815, 5055 19.4 (18.2 to 20.7) 1
 Yes/don’t know 133, 148 19.4 (13.1 to 27.7) 2.83 (1.74 to 4.59) 848, 695 30.9 (27.3 to 34.6) 1.86 (1.55 to 2.25)
Sexual competence at first sex§§ 0.4876 <0.0001 0.0787
 Not competent 2408, 3039 8.7 (7.5 to 10.0) 1 3438, 2927 23.6 (21.9 to 25.3) 1
 Competent 2302, 2784 7.8 (6.6 to 9.2) 0.91 (0.71 to 1.18) 3097, 2716 17.7 (16.1 to 19.3) 0.70 (0.61 to 0.81)
Number of other sexual response problems experienced¶¶ <0.0001 <0.0001 0.0262
 0 3209, 3947 5.3 (4.4 to 6.3) 1 4377, 3759 12.9 (11.7 to 14.1) 1
 1 1061, 1350 6.1 (4.7 to 7.8) 1.14 (0.81 to 1.59) 1217, 1087 21.7 (19.0 to 24.6) 1.86 (1.53 to 2.26)
 2+ 570, 678 29.7 (25.4 to 34.4) 7.57 (5.68 to 10.10) 1075, 909 52.4 (48.9 to 56.0) 7.48 (6.25 to 8.94)
Attitudes
People are under pressure to have sex 0.1437 <0.0001 0.2192
 Else 1799, 2264 7.4 (6.0 to 9.0) 1 1851, 1570 16.4 (14.5 to 18.5) 1
 Strongly agree/agree 3038, 3707 8.7 (7.6 to 9.9) 1.21 (0.94 to 1.57) 4817, 4185 22.4 (21.0 to 23.9) 1.47 (1.24 to 1.74)
People want less sex as they age 0.0005 <0.0001 0.8045
 Else 2943, 3472 6.7 (5.7 to 7.8) 1 4044, 3278 17.1 (15.8 to 18.6) 1
 Strongly agree/agree 1894, 2499 10.3 (8.8 to 12.1) 1.58 (1.22 to 2.04) 2624, 2477 25.6 (23.7 to 27.6) 1.64 (1.43 to 1.90)
Men have a naturally higher sex drive than women <0.0001 <0.0001
 Else 2788, 3441 10.2 (8.9 to 11.5) 1 3351, 2830 15.9 (14.4 to 17.4) 1
 Strongly agree/agree 2049, 2530 5.5 (4.4 to 6.9) 0.52 (0.39 to 0.68) 3317, 2925 25.5 (23.8 to 27.4) 1.81 (1.56 to 2.09)
Too much sex in the media 0.3477 0.0693 0.8856
 Else 1986, 2296 7.5 (6.3 to 9.0) 1 2091, 1618 18.8 (16.8 to 20.9) 1
 Strongly agree/agree 2851, 3675 8.6 (7.5 to 9.9) 1.13 (0.88 to 1.46) 4577, 4137 21.6 (20.2 to 23.0) 1.16 (0.99 to 1.36)

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.