Table 4.
Factors associated with sexlessness among all females participants from the General Social Survey
| % past-year sexless | % 5-year sexless | Unadjusted model for past-year sexlessness odds ratio (95% CI) | Demographic and health factors model for past-year sexlessness OR (95% CI) | All factors model for past-year sexless OR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total female study sample | 26.3 | 17.4 | |||
| Age at time of survey | |||||
| < 25 | 11.8 | 8.6 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| 25–34 year | 6.8 | 3.3 | 0.54 (0.42–0.71)‡ | 0.97 (0.69–1.36) | 0.78 (0.47–1.32) |
| 35–44 year | 11.2 | 4.9 | 0.95 (0.75–1.20) | 2.99 (2.11–4.23)‡ | 1.74 (0.99–3.07) § |
| 45–54 year | 20.4 | 9.2 | 1.92 (1.52–2.42)‡ | 7.25 (5.04–10.4)‡ | 5.34 (2.99–9.54)‡ |
| 55–64 year | 38.9 | 25.2 | 4.77 (3.78–6.01)‡ | 22.4 (15.1–33.1)‡ | 15.9 (8.48–29.6)‡ |
| 65 + | 73.7 | 61.3 | 21.0 (16.8–26.3)‡ | 76.4 (51.1–114.2)‡ | 44.7 (23.1–86.4)‡ |
| Years of education | |||||
| 17 + years (post-college) | 21.9 | 14.8 | 1.00 | Non-significanta | Non-significantc |
| 13–16 years (college) | 20.6 | 12.4 | 0.93 (0.78–1.10) | ||
| HS diploma (12 years) | 26.2 | 17.8 | 1.27 (1.07–1.50)† | ||
| 11 years or less | 41.0 | 31.1 | 2.48 (2.07–2.96)‡ | ||
| Race | |||||
| White | 27.1 | 18.2 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Black | 25.1 | 15.4 | 0.90 (0.79–1.02) | 1.50 (0.86–2.62) | 2.13 (0.89–5.08) |
| Other race | 18.3 | 12.4 | 0.60 (0.48–0.76)‡ | 1.32 (0.55–3.22) | 1.57 (0.43–5.66) |
| Marital status | |||||
| Married | 6.5 | 3.7 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Never married | 25.2 | 16.5 | 4.88 (4.18–5.70)‡ | 22.8 (16.1–32.3)‡ | 39.4 (21.5–72.3)‡ |
| Divorced/separated | 33.7 | 19.1 | 7.36 (6.34–8.53)‡ | 15.7 (12.0–20.51)‡ | 23.1 (14.6–36.5)‡ |
| Widowed | 85.2 | 66.6 | 83.4 (69.0–100.8)‡ | 31.7 (23.3–43.1)‡ | 49.5 (28.9–85.0)‡ |
| Past-year household income ** | |||||
| $75,000 +/year | 8.5 | 4.3 | 1.00 | 1.00 | Non-significantd |
| $60 K–74,999/year | 11.5 | 6.7 | 1.40 (1.05–1.88)* | 1.09 (0.72–1.67) | |
| $45 K–59,999/year | 14.8 | 9.2 | 1.88 (1.46–2.41)‡ | 1.25 (1.10–1.80) | |
| $30 K–44,999/year | 21.6 | 13.2 | 2.97 (2.37–3.72)‡ | 1.48 (1.06–2.06)* | |
| $15 K–29,999/year | 30.4 | 19.6 | 4.71 (3.81–5.81)‡ | 1.52 (1.11–2.08)* | |
| < $15 K/year | 44.4 | 31.0 | 8.61 (6.98–10.6)‡ | 1.77 (1.27–2.45)† | |
| Household income contribution | |||||
| 80–100% | 25.9 | 14.0 | 1.00 | Non-significantb | Non-significante |
| 60–79% | 15.6 | 8.7 | 0.53 (0.41–0.69)‡ | ||
| 40–59% | 8.6 | 4.6 | 0.27 (0.22–0.34)‡ | ||
| 20–39% | 9.1 | 3.7 | 0.29 (0.23–0.36)‡ | ||
| 0–19% | 10.7 | 7.4 | 0.34 (0.27–0.43)‡ | ||
| Self-reported health | |||||
| Excellent to fair health | 24.7 | 16.1 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Poor health | 57.8 | 42.1 | 4.19 (3.40–5.15)‡ | 1.99 (1.44–2.76)‡ | 2.93 (1.65–5.20)‡ |
| Participant has children | |||||
| No children | 27.5 | 19.5 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Has children | 25.9 | 16.8 | 0.21 (0.83–1.02) | 0.56 (0.45–0.81)‡ | 0.46 (0.31–0.69)‡ |
| Marital status 9 race | |||||
| Never married—Black | 14.3 | 8.6 | 0.37 (0.19–0.72)† | 0.16 (0.05–0.46)‡ | |
| Never married—Other race | 21.9 | 17.5 | 0.98 (0.35–2.72) | 0.79 (0.17–3.74) | |
| Divorced/Sep.—Black | 24.2 | 14.8 | 0.42 (0.22–0.80)† | 0.30 (0.11–0.87)* | |
| Divorced/Sep—Other race | 15.9 | 15.7 | 0.65 (0.21–1.97) | 0.15 (0.02–1.11) | |
| Widowed—Black | 65.6 | 55.8 | 0.29 (0.13–0.61)† | 0.10 (0.03–0.37)‡ | |
| Widowed—Other race | 68.8 | 47.6 | 1.22 (0.29–5.10) | NE | |
| Psychosocial/lifestyle factors | |||||
| Homosexual experience | |||||
| Never since age 18 | 10.1 | NA | 1.00 | Non-significantf | |
| Ever since age 18 | 4.4 | NA | 0.41 (0.22–0.78)† | ||
| Current job/work satisfaction | Ns | ||||
| Satisfied | 18.1 | 10.6 | 1.00 | Non-significantg | |
| Neutral/not sure | 14.9 | 13.5 | 0.79 (0.35–1.77) | ||
| Dissatisfied | 18.5 | 8.8 | 1.03 (0.87–1.21) | ||
| Current financial satisfaction | |||||
| Satisfied | 29.2 | 21.2 | 1.00 | 1.00 | |
| More or less satisfied | 25.7 | 17.4 | 0.83 (0.75–0.94)† | 1.46 (1.03–2.06)* | |
| Not at all satisfied | 24.5 | 14.0 | 0.79 (0.70–0.89)‡ | 1.43 (0.97–2.11)§ | |
| Social engagement levels | |||||
| At least several times/month | 25.9 | 16.2 | 1.00 | Non-significantg | |
| Once/month-several times/yr | 22.1 | 14.5 | 0.81 (0.72–0.93)† | ||
| Socialize once/year or less | 43.0 | 33.2 | 2.16 (1.81–2.57)‡ | ||
| Sexual attitudes | |||||
| Liberal attitudes | 13.9 | 5.3 | 1.00 | 1.00 | |
| Moderate attitudes | 15.2 | 7.2 | 1.11 (0.64–1.94) | 0.97 (0.68–1.26) | |
| Conservative attitudes | 34.3 | 24.8 | 3.23 (1.89–5.52)‡ | 3.60 (1.86–6.96)‡ | |
All statistically significant associations are shown in bold
p<.05;
p<.01;
p<.001;
p<.10
Adjusted for Year 2000 equivalent value. NE non-estimatable due to small sample size
The following variables were non-significant and dropped from the stepwise regression model for females
Education: 13–16 years = 0.95 (0.72–1.24); high school diploma = 0.87 (0.65–1.16); 11 years or less = 0.83 (0.60–1.16)
Contribution to household income:60–79% = 0.97(0.62–1.53);40–59% = 1.07(0.68–1.68);20–39% = 0.82(0.49–1.37);0–19% = 0.78(0.52–1.16)
Education: 13–16 years = 0.93 (0.41–2.12); high school diploma = 0.72 (0.28–1.81); 11 years or less = 0.84 (0.26–2.73)
Household income: $60 K–74,999 = 2.10 (0.62–7.20); $45 K–59,999 = 0.99 (0.34–2.95); $30 K–44,999 = 2.01 (0.75–5.38); $15 K–29,999 = 1.33 (0.50–3.52);<15 K = 1.32 (0.48–3.68)
Contribution to household income: 60–79% = 0.84 (0.33–2.15); 40–59% = 1.75 (0.75–4.08); 20–39% = 0.90 (0.33–2.46); 0–19% = 0.69 (0.20–2.39)
Job satisfaction: neutral = 0.00 (0-inf); dissatisfied = 1.32 (0.71–2.44)
Social engagement levels: socialized 19 month-several times/year = 1.02 (0.65–1.59); socialized 19/year or less = 0.64 (0.29–1.42)