Silent struggles: help-seeking barriers for sexual difficulties among adults 50+ in Czechia
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00023752%3A_____%2F25%3A43921578" target="_blank" >RIV/00023752:_____/25:43921578 - isvavai.cz</a>
Alternative codes found
RIV/00216224:14230/25:00141714 RIV/00216208:11240/25:10500740 RIV/00064165:_____/25:10500740
Result on the web
<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1622872/full" target="_blank" >https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1622872/full</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1622872" target="_blank" >10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1622872</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Silent struggles: help-seeking barriers for sexual difficulties among adults 50+ in Czechia
Original language description
Although sexual problems become more common with age, older adults rarely seek professional help. Understanding why is key to supporting sexual health in aging populations. This study assessed the prevalence of sexual difficulties, help-seeking behavior, and reasons for not seeking help among Czech adults aged 50–75, using nationally representative data from the 2023/2024 CzechSex survey (n = 2,927; 53% men). Logistic regression analyses examined the predictor role of sociodemographic factors, sexual activity frequency, sexual ageism, and distress over sexual problems on help-seeking. Lifetime sexual difficulties were reported by 59% of respondents, and 31% experienced them in the past 12 months. Among those with persistent issues, only 7.6% sought counseling or other professional help. Women were significantly more likely than men not to seek help (OR = 1.64, 95% CI [1.04, 2.61], p < 0.05); lower distress was also associated with non-help-seeking (OR = 0.68, 95% CI [0.54, 0.86], p < 0.001). The most common reasons for not seeking help were perceiving problems as not bothersome, followed by shame, embarrassment, and difficulty communicating (personal/emotional barriers). Systemic barriers (e.g., lack of services, long wait times) were rarely reported. Overall, help-seeking for sexual problems is uncommon in this age group, and personal barriers outweigh institutional ones, posing a challenge for effectively targeting no-help seekers and designing effective interventions.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
30304 - Public and environmental health
Result continuities
Project
Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.
Continuities
P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Frontiers in Psychology
ISSN
1664-1078
e-ISSN
1664-1078
Volume of the periodical
16
Issue of the periodical within the volume
"Article Number: 1622872"
Country of publishing house
CH - SWITZERLAND
Number of pages
9
Pages from-to
1-9
UT code for WoS article
001553093100001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-105013973167