Nantje Fischer

• Fischer, Nantje & Træen, Bente (2021). Prevalence of sexual difficulties and related distress, and the association with sexual avoidance in Norway. International Journal of Sexual Health.  ISSN 1931-7611. Show summary

  Aim: To assess the prevalence of sexual difficulties and related distress, the association between sexual difficulties and sexual avoidance, and to establish whether sexual difficulties and sexual avoidance are moderated by relationship satisfaction. Methods: This study included a sample of 4,160 adults aged 18–89 years enrolled from a randomly selected web panel of 11,685 Norwegians. Results: Sexual difficulties were particularly common among adults aged <30 years. In men and women lack of interest in sex and general sexual distress were associated with more sexual avoidance. The association between lack of sexual interest and sexual avoidance was, however, buffered by relationship satisfaction. Climaxing too early was related to less sexual avoidance in both genders. Yet for men, this association was only significant among those with lower relationship satisfaction. Conclusion: The findings underline the important links among specific sexual difficulties, sexual distress, and the frequency of avoiding sexual activity.

• Træen, Bente & Fischer, Nantje (2021). Use of protection for unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections in six birth cohorts in Norway 2020: A descriptive study. Sexuality & Culture.  ISSN 1095-5143. . doi: 10.1007/s12119-021-09879-w Show summary

  Aim: This study describes the use of contraception and protection for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in six different birth cohorts of the general population in Norway. Methods: The results are based on a 2020 national web panel survey among 18–89 year-olds in Norway (n = 4,160). Results: For respondents born within 1931–1950 versus those born within 1990–2002, there was a significant increase in the use of protection against unwanted pregnancy and STIs during sexual intercourse, and a significant drop in the proportion of those who did not use any protection at all. More women today (than in previous decades) are using hormonal contraception. The main reason for not using condoms during intercourse was both parties felt safe that they were healthy, especially those born within 1990–2002. Conclusion: To prevent unwanted pregnancy and STIs, it is beneficial to continue to increase the availability of free or subsidized hormonal contraception, including emergency contraception, and free condoms in public arenas that people frequent and where they meet their partners.

• Træen, Bente; Fischer, Nantje & Kvalem, Ingela Lundin (2021). Sexual intercourse activity and activities associated with sexual interaction in Norwegians of different sexual orientations and ages. Sexual and Relationship Therapy.  ISSN 1468-1994. . doi: 10.1080/14681994.2021.1912316 Show summary

  Purpose: To study different subgroups of Norwegians’ frequency of sexual intercourse and the activities that Norwegians engage in during intercourse. Methods: Data were collected from a questionnaire survey of a representative web sample of 4,160 Norwegians aged 18 to 89 years. The response rate was 35%. Results: The majority of men (65%) and women (61%) reported sexual intercourse activity during the past month, and it was most common to report such activity 2 or 3 times per month. Partnered participants most often reported having intercourse weekly. The intercourse frequency of 2 to 3 times per week declined from 35% in participants aged 18 to 29 years to 8% in participants 60 years and older. The most common heterosexual activities reported were vaginal sex, stimulated genitals with the hands or mouth, use of sex toys, and anal sex. Younger and middle-aged Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender/Transsexual, Intersex, Asexual [LGBTIA] men most often reported activities such as mutual masturbation, oral sex, and anal sex. Younger and middle-aged LGBTIA women most frequently reported mutual masturbation, vaginal sex, and oral sex. Conclusion: There seems to be a generational shift in types of activities in participants 59 years or younger, and those 60 years and above.

• Træen, Bente; Fischer, Nantje & Kvalem, Ingela Lundin (2021). Sexual variety in Norwegian men and women of different sexual orientations and ages.. Journal of Sex Research.  ISSN 0022-4499. Show summary

  The purpose of the paper was to examine Norwegians’ incorporation of seven varied sexual acts. Data were obtained from a questionnaire survey of a probability-based web sample of 2,181 men and 1,967 women aged 18–89 years. Among seven acts of sexual variety, the most common sexual experiences were trying to watch pornography with a partner, engaging in sex in unusual places, and using sex toys. Older age was negatively associated with all acts of sexual variety. Regarding more unorthodox acts of sexual variety, heterosexual men’s sexual preferences involved having and desiring group sex, whereas heterosexual women’s sexual experiences and desires involved having sex in unusual places. Lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB) individuals generally showed greater curiosity or experience of having group sex and engaging in BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance and submission, and sadomasochism) activities than heterosexual adults. However, while LGB men had a high preference for group sex activities, LGB women had more positive attitudes towards BDSM activity. Individuals appear to accumulate more acts of sexual variety over time, thus making the incorporation of sexual variety a function of age. This study supports the idea that sexual variety has expanded among those born from 1960 onwards.

• Fischer, Nantje; Graham, Cynthia A.; Træen, Bente & Hald, Gert Martin (2021). Prevalence of Masturbation and Associated Factors Among Older Adults in Four European Countries. Archives of Sexual Behavior.  ISSN 0004-0002. . doi: 10.1007/s10508-021-02071-z.
• Fischer, Nantje; Stulhofer, Aleksandar; Hald, Gert Martin; Carvalheira, Ana & Træen, Bente (2020). Sexual Satisfaction in Older Heterosexual Couples From Four European Countries: Exploring the Roles of Actual and Perceived Discrepancy in Sexual Interest. Journal of Sex Research.  ISSN 0022-4499. . doi: 10.1080/00224499.2020.1809615 Show summary

  Even though sexual activity frequently takes place with another person, research rarely focuses on how partners influence each other’s sexual lives. This study used the sexual dyad to compare the concept of actual versus perceived discrepancy in sexual interest and explored how each is related to older partnered individuals’ sexual satisfaction. Further, the study assessed the robustness of the association between sexual interest discrepancy and sexual satisfaction, if any, by controlling for emotional intimacy. The actor–partner interdependence model (APIM) using structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to examine 677 heterosexual couples ages 60 to 75 in Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and Portugal. Although a couple’s actual discrepancy in sexual interest was not predictive of female and male partners’ sexual satisfaction, perceived discrepancy was negatively associated with sexual satisfaction in both partners after controlling for emotional intimacy. This indicates that the subjective feelings of being sexually dissimilar seem to be more important to sexual satisfaction than the actual mismatch among partners in older heterosexual couples. Moreover, the finding that emotional intimacy is linked with sexual satisfaction underscores the importance of a broader perspective on sexuality among older adults.

• Træen, Bente; Hald, Gert Martin; Fischer, Nantje & Janssen, Erick (2020). European older adults’ use of lubricants and medications to enhance erectile function. International Journal of Sexual Health.  ISSN 1931-7611.  32(2), s 81- 93 . doi: 10.1080/19317611.2020.1749210 Full text in Research Archive. Show summary

  What is the prevalence of using lubricants and medication to enhance erectile function among older adults, and what predicts such use? Survey data were collected in probability samples among 60–75 year-olds in Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and Portugal. In men, use of medication was highest in Norway (26%) and lowest in Portugal (12%). In women, use of lubricants was highest in Norway (31%), and lowest in Belgium (3%). Compared to those who had no sexual difficulties, use of medication/lubricants were higher in individuals with sexual difficulties. The findings contribute to an increased attention to the sexual health of older adults.

• Fischer, Nantje; Træen, Bente; Stulhofer, Aleksandar & Hald, Gert Martin (2019). Mechanisms underlying the association between perceived discrepancy in sexual interest and sexual satisfaction among partnered older adults in four European countries.. European Journal of Ageing.  ISSN 1613-9372.  s 1- 12 . doi: 10.1007/s10433-019-00541-x Full text in Research Archive.
• Fischer, Nantje; Træen, Bente & Hald, Gert Martin (2018). Predicting Partnered Sexual Activity among Older Adults in Four European Countries: The Role of Attitudes, Health and Relationship Factors. Sexual and Relationship Therapy.  ISSN 1468-1994.  s 1- 19 . doi: 10.1080/14681994.2018.1468560 Show summary

  Aim: To investigate factors that predict partnered sexual activity in men and women aged 60–75 years from Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and Portugal. Methods: Cross-sectional study including national representative samples of people aged 60–75 years from Norway (676 men, 594 women), Denmark (530 men, 515 women), Belgium (318 men, 672 women), and Portugal (236 men, 273 women). Data were collected by means of anonymous questionnaires. Results: Generally, across countries, the two most important predictors of partnered sexual activity were positive attitudes toward ‘Sex for well-being’, and sexual problems in the partner. Other important predictors of partnered sexual activity included positive attitudes toward sexual changes due to aging, previous sexual activity, and relationship happiness. Conclusion: The sexual function of the partner and people’s own sexual attitudes were highly predictive of partnered sexual activity.

• Fischer, Nantje & Træen, Bente (2016). Medisinstudenters intensjon om å tematisere seksualitet i behandlingsrommet. Scandinavian Psychologist.  ISSN 1894-5570.  3(e14) . doi: 10.15714/scandpsychol.3.e14

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• Fischer, Nantje & Træen, Bente (2020). Sexual satisfaction in older couples from four European countries: exploring the effects of actual and perceived discrepancy in sexual interest, physical affection, and emotional intimacy.
• Fischer, Nantje; Træen, Bente & Stulhofer, Aleksandar (2018). The Mechanisms between Sexual Interest and Sexual Satisfaction among Older Partnered Adults in Europe: A Moderated Mediation Model.

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