In Young Adulthood, Conflicting Demands Influence Sexual Expression
Most young men and women have only a few sex partners
Dating relationships are short-lived
Cohabitation is an increasingly prevalent lifestyle
Cohabitation has diverse meanings
Cohabitation does not harm a subsequent marriage
Marriage Takes Diverse Forms
The formalization of sexual unions has social and personal functions
Many societies have permitted polygamy
Box 11.1 Mormon Polygamy
Polyamory includes a variety of non-monogamous relationships
The Institution of Marriage Is Evolving
Companionate marriage makes the availability of divorce a necessity
Marriage is becoming a minority status
Relationship options have diversified
Most Long-Term Couples Are Satisfied with Their Sex Lives
The frequency of sex declines over the course of long-term relationships
Marital satisfaction declines during middle age
A Variety of Factors Bring Relationships to an EnD
Box 11.2 You Know the Future of Your Marriage
Several demographic factors increase the
likelihood of a breakup
There are more personal reasons for breakups
Marital Disruption Can Have Negative and Positive Consequences
Divorced men and women can suffer psychological, physical, and economic damage
Divorce may be the start of a new life
Many divorced people remarry
Does marriage have a future?
Menopause Marks Women’s Transition to Infertility
Menopause may be caused by depletion of ova
Women may experience a decline in sexual function at menopause
Decreased hormone levels affect a woman’s physiology
Hormone therapy can reduce menopausal symptoms
Men’s Fertility Declines Gradually with Age
Old People Face Challenges to Their Sex Lives—Often Successfully
Aging is accompanied by physiological changes in the sexual response
Medical conditions, drugs, and social factors can impair the sexuality of older people
Old age may be a time for romance
Box 11.3 Seniors on Sex