Age and Relationship Satisfaction: An International Study of Perceptions about Intimacy

Romantic relationships are integral to many people's lives, and they can be both a source of support and stress. Long-term intimate relationships typically change over time, and they tend to look different depending upon the... [ view full abstract ]

Romantic relationships are integral to many people's lives, and they can be both a source of support and stress. Long-term intimate relationships typically change over time, and they tend to look different depending upon the chronological age of the partners as well as the length of time partnered. In this study, we compare the responses of participants (N=1,500) from two countries (United States and Australia) to determine if patterns and perceptions of relationships are associated with age. Descriptive analysis will highlight how older adults in our study perceive relationship issues, including sex and emotional support, and comparisons by gender will provide insight into how sex influences these perceptions. We will also provide demographic information related to relationship status (e.g., married, living with someone), sexual orientation, and past relationships. Utilizing Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, we determine what variables help explain the variance in relationship satisfaction for older adults who are currently partnered. Gaining a greater understanding of relationship status and perception among older adults is essential to good social work practice across many of the domains in which social workers are employed, including case management, therapeutic practices, and elder/aged care. Given that many Western societies are ageing, social work practices need to become more inclusive of older adults, and this is in part achieved through greater knowledge regarding their perspective on key psychosocial issues. Moreover, assessing for sources of support through intimate relationships is essential strengths based practice.