Relatively few studies have measured sexual functioning in women using a large, diverse, community-based sample with measures
that allow for direct comparisons with previous findings. In this article, we: (1) describe prevalence of sexual activity
in women by key sociodemographic characteristics, including age, race/ethnicity, marital status, and socioeconomic status;
and (2) estimate the influence of key correlates on sexual problems. Data were analyzed from the Boston Area Community Health
(BACH) Survey, a 2002–2005 community-based epidemiologic study of urologic and gynecologic symptoms, sociodemographics, health
status, and psychosocial characteristics in a diverse sample of Boston area residents (
N = 3,205 women aged 30–79 years). Analyses of sexual activity prevalence and reasons for inactivity were conducted on the
full sample, while analyses of sexual problems and their correlates were conducted for the subset of women who engaged in
sexual activity with a partner in the previous 4 weeks. A total of 49% of participants were not sexually active, citing lack
of interest (51.5%) and lack of a partner (60.8%) as the most common reasons. Data pertaining to five dimensions of sexual
functioning were gathered through a self-administered questionnaire adapted from the Female Sexual Function Index, measuring
desire among all women and arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and pain among those who were sexually active. Among the sexually
active, we obtained a 38.4% prevalence rate of sexual problems and 34.9% of those participants reported that they were also
dissatisfied with their sex lives. Therefore, only 13.7% of the sexually active sample exhibited both sexual problems and
dissatisfaction with their overall sex lives. Age was strongly and positively associated with sexual problems. In terms of
psychosocial factors, depression, sexual and physical abuse in adulthood, global mental health functioning, and alcohol were
associated with sexual problems, with variation across racial/ethnic groups.
Key words Sexual activity - Sexual problems - Female sexual dysfunction - Social epidemiology