Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Cross-Cultural Study of Midlife Relational and Sexual Health: Comparing Ukraine to the U.S. and Turkey

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Sexuality & Culture Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We examined how relational and sexual health in Ukraine compares to relational and sexual health in the United States (U.S.) and Turkey. Given these countries’ differences in cultural orientation, religion, and gender attitudes, reference group theory suggests that individuals will adopt group norms and therefore differ across countries. Married midlife adults ages 35–60 years old (United States n = 315, 50.8% female participants; Ukraine n = 322, 46.3% female participants; Turkey n = 563, 38.9% female participants,) completed an Internet survey about relational and sexual health. Ukrainian adults were less satisfied with their relationships, more satisfied with their sexual communication, kissed less, had oral and vaginal sex more frequently, and were more judging of sexual experiences than U.S. adults. However, Ukrainian adults were more satisfied with their relationships, had more frequent vaginal sex, were less judging of sexual experiences, and reported more sexual desire than Turkish adults. These findings suggest that specific cultural features may differentially contribute to cross-cultural differences and demonstrate the important role of culture in understanding relational and sexual health.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams, G., Anderson, S. L., & Adonu, J. K. (2004). The cultural grounding of closeness and intimacy. In D. J. Mashek & A. P. Aron (Eds.), The handbook of closeness and intimacy (pp. 321–339). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amato, P. R., Johnson, D. R., Booth, A., & Rogers, S. J. (2003). Continuity and change in marital quality between 1980 and 2000. Journal of Marriage and the Family,65, 1–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ataca, B., & Sunar, D. (1999). Continuity and change in Turkish urban family life. Psychology and Developing Societies,11, 77–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Attwood, F. (2014). Introduction. In F. Attwood (Ed.), Mainstreaming sex: The sexualization of Western culture (pp. i–xiii). IB Tauris: London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barreto, M. E., Ryan, M. K., & Schmitt, M. T. (2009). The glass ceiling in the 21st century: Understanding barriers to gender equality. DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrett, A. E. (2005). Gendered experiences in midlife: Implications for age identity. Journal of Aging Studies,19, 163–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister, R. F., & Stillman, T. (2006). Erotic plasticity: Nature, culture, gender, and sexuality. In R. D. McAnulty & M. M. Burnette (Eds.), Sex and sexuality (pp. 343–359). Westport, CT: Praeger Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boiger, M., Güngör, D., Karasawa, M., & Mesquita, B. (2014). Defending honour, keeping face: Interpersonal affordances of anger and shame in Turkey and Japan. Cognition and Emotion,28, 1255–1269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borysenko, L. (2017). Ukrainian culture: Individualism or collectivism? Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309546635_Ukrainian_culture_individualism_or_collectivism.

  • Boss, P. (2014). Family stress. In A. Michalos (Ed.), Encyclopedia of quality of life and well-being research (pp. 2202–2208). Berlin: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brezsnyak, M., & Whisman, M. A. (2004). Sexual desire and relationship functioning: The effects of marital satisfaction and power. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy,30, 199–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brody, S. (2007). Vaginal orgasm is associated with better psychological functioning. Sexual and Relationship Therapy,22, 173–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brody, S., & Costa, R. M. (2009). Satisfaction (sexual, life, relationship, and mental health) is associated directly with penile-vaginal intercourse, but inversely with other sexual behavior frequencies. The Journal of Sexual Medicine,6, 1947–1954.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brotto, L. A., Bitzer, J., Laan, E., Leiblum, S., & Luria, M. (2010). Women’s sexual desire and arousal disorders. The Journal of Sexual Medicine,7, 586–614.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,84, 822–848.

    Google Scholar 

  • Busby, D. M., Holman, T. B., & Taniguchi, N. (2001). RELATE: Relationship evaluation of the individual, cultural, and couple contexts. Family Relations,50, 308–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buyum. (2018). How women activists keep fighting in Turkey in a climate of fear. Retrieved from http://time.com/5254444/how-women-activists-in-turkey-keep-fighting-in-a-climate-of-fear/.

  • Byers, E. S., & Demmons, S. (2010). Sexual satisfaction and sexual self-disclosure within dating relationships. Journal of Sex Research,36, 180–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cahill, L. S. (1996). Sex, gender, and Christian ethics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chao, J. K., Lin, Y. C., Ma, M. C., Lai, C. J., Ku, Y. C., Kuo, W. H., et al. (2011). Relationship among sexual desire, sexual satisfaction, and quality of life in middle-aged and older adults. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy,37, 386–403.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cherlin, A. J. (2009). The marriage-go-round. New York, NY: Vintage Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chung, M. (2016). Individualism-collectivism revisited. Asian Communication Research,13, 58–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coffelt, T. A., & Hess, J. A. (2014). Sexual disclosures: Connections to relational satisfaction and closeness. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy,40, 577–591.

    Google Scholar 

  • Council of Europe. (2018). Counsel of Europe trying to enhance gender equality in Ukraine. Retrieved from http://www.coe.int/en/web/kyiv/-/council-of-europe-working-to-enhance-gender-equality-in-ukraine.

  • Crawford, M. (2017). International sex trafficking. Women & Therapy,40, 101–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dakin, J., & Wampler, R. (2008). Money doesn’t buy happiness, but it helps: Marital satisfaction, psychological distress, and demographic differences between low-and middle-income clinic couples. The American Journal of Family Therapy,36, 300–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Munck, V., Korotayev, A., & McGreevey, J. (2016). Romantic love and family organization: A case for romantic love as a biosocial universal. Evolutionary Psychology,14, 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dean, J., Shechter, A., Vertkin, A., Weiss, P., Yaman, O., Hodik, M., et al. (2013). Sexual Health and Overall Wellness (SHOW) survey in men and women in selected European and Middle Eastern countries. Journal of International Medical Research,41, 482–492.

    Google Scholar 

  • del Mar Sánchez-Fuentes, M., Santos-Iglesias, P., & Sierra, J. C. (2014). A systematic review of sexual satisfaction. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology,14, 67–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeLamater, J. D., & Sill, M. (2005). Sexual desire in later life. Journal of Sex Research,42, 138–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennerstein, L., Hayes, R., Sand, M., & Lehert, P. (2009). Attitudes toward and frequency of partner interactions among women reporting decreased sexual desire. The Journal of Sexual Medicine,6, 1668–1673.

    Google Scholar 

  • Durkheim, E. (1995). The elementary forms of religious life. (K. E. Fields Trans.). New York, NY: Free Press. (Original work published 1912).

  • Floyd, K., Boren, J. P., Hannawa, A. F., Hesse, C., McEwan, B., & Veksler, A. E. (2009). Kissing in marital and cohabiting relationships: Effects on blood lipids, stress, and relationship satisfaction. Western Journal of Communication,73, 113–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forbes, M. K., Eaton, N. R., & Krueger, R. F. (2017). Sexual quality of life and aging: A prospective study of a nationally representative sample. The Journal of Sex Research,54, 137–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frederick, D. A., Lever, J., Gillespie, B. J., & Garcia, J. R. (2017). What keeps passion alive? Sexual satisfaction is associated with sexual communication, mood setting, sexual variety, oral sex, orgasm, and sex frequency in a national US study. The Journal of Sex Research,54, 186–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Funk, J. L., & Rogge, R. D. (2007). Testing the ruler with item response theory: Increasing precision of measurement for relationship satisfaction with the Couple Satisfaction Index. Journal of Family Psychology,21, 572–583.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gager, C. T., & Yabiku, S. T. (2010). Who has the time? The relationship between household labor time and sexual frequency. Journal of Family Issues,31, 135–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gehring, D. (2003). Couple therapy for low sexual desire: A systemic approach. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy,29, 25–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson-Davis, C. M., Edin, K., & McLanahan, S. (2005). High hopes bet even higher expectations: The retreat from marriage among low-income couples. Journal of Marriage and Family,67, 1301–1312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodwin, R. (2013). Personal relationships across cultures. New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottman, J. M. (2014). What predicts divorce?: The relationship between marital processes and marital outcomes. New York, NY: Psychology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grimm, S. D., Church, A. T., Katigbak, M. S., & Reyes, J. A. S. (1999). Self-described traits, values, and moods associated with individualism and collectivism testing IC: Theory in an individualistic (US) and a collectivistic (Philippine) culture. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology,30, 466–500.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heiman, J. R., Long, J. S., Smith, S. N., Fisher, W. A., Sand, M. S., & Rosen, R. C. (2011). Sexual satisfaction and relationship happiness in midlife and older couples in five countries. Archives of Sexual Behavior,40, 741–753.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hiew, D. N., Halford, W. K., Van de Vijver, F. J., & Liu, S. (2015). Relationship standards and satisfaction in Chinese, Western, and intercultural Chinese–Western couples in Australia. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology,46, 684–701.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofstede Insights. (2017). Country comparison. Retrieved from https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison/turkey,ukraine/.

  • Hughes, D. M. (2000). The” Natasha” trade: The transnational shadow market of trafficking in women. Journal of International Affairs,53, 625–651.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, S. M., Harrison, M. A., & Gallup, G. G., Jr. (2007). Sex differences in romantic kissing among college students: An evolutionary perspective. Evolutionary Psychology,5, 612–631.

    Google Scholar 

  • İmamoğlu, E. O., & Selcuk, E. (2018). Cultural and self-related considerations in relationship well-being: With particular reference to marriage in Turkey. In C. C. Weisfeld, G. E. Weisfeld, & L. M. Dillon (Eds.), The psychology of marriage: An evolutionary and cross-cultural view (pp. 89–106). New York, NY: Lexington Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart, R., & Norris, P. (2003). Rising tide: Gender equality and cultural change around the world. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, J. B., Miller, R. B., Oka, M., & Henry, R. G. (2014). Gender differences in marital satisfaction: A meta-analysis. Journal of Marriage and Family,76, 105–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jankowiak, W. R., Volsche, S. L., & Garcia, J. R. (2015). Is the romantic–sexual kiss a near human universal? American Anthropologist,117, 535–539.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kapoor, S., Hughes, P. C., Baldwin, J. R., & Blue, J. (2003). The relationship of individualism–collectivism and self-construal to communication styles in India and the United States. International Journal of Intercultural Relations,27, 683–700.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karney, B. R., & Bradbury, T. N. (1995). The longitudinal course of marital quality and stability: A review of theory, methods, and research. Psychological Bulletin,118, 3–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kornrich, S., Brines, J., & Leupp, K. (2013). Egalitarianism, housework, and sexual frequency in marriage. American Sociological Review,78, 26–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lachman, M. E., Teshale, S., & Agrigoroaei, S. (2015). Midlife as a pivotal period in the life course: Balancing growth and decline at the crossroads of youth and old age. International Journal of Behavioral Development,39, 20–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laumann, E. O., Nicolosi, A., Glasser, D. B., Paik, A., Gingell, C., Moreira, E., et al. (2005). Sexual problems among women and men aged 40–80 y: Prevalence and correlates identified in the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors. International Journal of Impotence Research,17, 39–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laumann, E. O., Paik, A., Glasser, D. B., Kang, J. H., Wang, T., Levinson, B., et al. (2006). A cross-national study of subjective sexual well-being among older women and men: Findings from the Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors. Archives of Sexual Behavior,35, 143–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laurenceau, J. P., Rivera, L. M., Schaffer, A. R., & Pietromonaco, P. R. (2004). Intimacy as an interpersonal process: Current status and future directions. In D. J. Mashek & A. Aron (Eds.), Handbook of closeness and intimacy (pp. 61–78). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leavitt, C. E., Lefkowitz, E. S., & Waterman, E. A. (2019). The role of sexual mindfulness in sexual wellbeing, relational wellbeing, and self-esteem. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy,45, 497–509.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lefkowitz, E. S., & Espinosa-Hernandez, G. (2007). Sex-related communication with mothers and close friends during the transition to university. Journal of Sex Research,44, 17–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lefkowitz, E. S., Gillen, M. M., Shearer, C. L., & Boone, T. L. (2004). Religiosity, sexual behaviors, and sexual attitudes during emerging adulthood. Journal of Sex Research,41, 150–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lefkowitz, E. S., Shearer, C. L., Gillen, M. M., & Espinosa-Hernandez, G. (2014). How gendered attitudes relate to women’s and men’s sexual behaviors and beliefs. Sexuality and Culture,18, 833–846.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lykes, V. A., & Kemmelmeier, M. (2014). What predicts loneliness? Cultural difference between individualistic and collectivistic societies in Europe. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology,45, 468–490.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mark, K. P., & Jozkowski, K. N. (2013). The mediating role of sexual and nonsexual communication between relationship and sexual satisfaction in a sample of college-age heterosexual couples. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy,39, 410–427.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, T. C. (2008). Cultural differences in intimacy: The influence of gender-role ideology and individualism-collectivism. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships,25, 143–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, K. R., Mercer, C. H., Ploubidis, G. B., Jones, K. G., Datta, J., Field, N., et al. (2013). Sexual function in Britain: Findings from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3). The Lancet,382, 1817–1829.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moscovici, S., & Duveen, G. (2000). Social representations: Explorations in social psychology (Vol. 41). Cambridge: Polity Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müftüler-Bac, M. (1999). Turkish women’s predicament. Women’s Studies International Forum,22, 303–315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicolosi, A., Laumann, E. O., Glasser, D. B., Moreira, E. D., Paik, A., & Gingell, C. (2004a). Sexual behavior and sexual dysfunctions after age 40: The global study of sexual attitudes and behaviors. Urology,64, 991–997.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicolosi, A., Moreira, E. D., Jr., Villa, M., & Glasser, D. B. (2004b). A population study of the association between sexual function, sexual satisfaction and depressive symptoms in men. Journal of Affective Disorders,82, 235–243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliver, M. B., & Hyde, J. S. (1993). Gender differences in sexuality: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin,114, 29–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Özyeşil, Z. (2012). Mindfulness and psychological Needs: A cross-cultural comparison. İlköğretim Online,11, 151–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, J. L., & Hyde, J. S. (2010). A meta-analytic review of research on gender differences in sexuality, 1993–2007. Psychological Bulletin,136, 21–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pew Research. (2017). Religious commitment and practice. Retrieved from https://www.pewforum.org/2017/05/10/religious-commitment-and-practices/.

  • Pew Research Center. (2015). America’s changing religious landscape. Retrieved from http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/.

  • Quinn-Nilas, C., Milhausen, R. R., McKay, A., & Holzapfel, S. (2018). Prevalence and predictors of sexual problems among midlife Canadian adults: Results from a national survey. The Journal of Sexual Medicine,15, 873–879.

    Google Scholar 

  • Religious Freedom Report. (2016). Ukraine 2014 international religious freedom report. Retrieved from https://www.reliefweb.int/report/world/2014-international-religious-freedom-report.

  • Robles, T. F., Slatcher, R. B., Trombello, J. M., & McGinn, M. M. (2014). Marital quality and health: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin,140, 1–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossi, A. S. (1980). Life-span theories and women’s lives. Signs,6, 4–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sani, G. M. D., & Quaranta, M. (2017). The best is yet to come? Attitudes toward gender roles among adolescents in 36 countries. Sex Roles,77, 30–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Segrin, C., & Nabi, R. L. (2002). Does television viewing cultivate unrealistic expectations about marriage? Journal of Communication,52, 247–263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Štulhofer, A., Buško, V., & Brouillard, P. (2010). Development and bicultural validation of the New Sexual Satisfaction Scale. Journal of Sex Research,47, 257–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swanbrow, D. (2007). Study identifies worldwide rates of religiosity and church attendance. Michigan News. Retrieved from http://ns.umich.edu/new/releases/1835.

  • Szolnoki, G., & Hoffmann, D. (2013). Online, face-to-face and telephone surveys—Comparing different sampling methods in wine consumer research. Wine Economics and Policy,2, 57–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang, N., Bensman, L., & Hatfield, E. (2013). Culture and sexual self-disclosure in intimate relationships. Interpersona: An International Journal on Personal Relationships,7, 227–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Træen, B., Carvalheira, A. A., Hald, G. M., Lange, T., & Kvalem, I. L. (2019). Attitudes towards sexuality in older men and women across Europe: Similarities, differences, and associations with their sex lives. Sexuality and Culture,23, 1–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nation Development Programme (UNDP). (2017). Human development reports. Retrieved from http://hdr.undp.org/en/indicators/68606#.

  • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). (2007). Refworld | Country profile—Turkey. World Factbook. CIA Unhcr.org. Retrieved from http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/45ffefcd2.pdf.

  • USAID. (2016). Gender equality and women’s empowerment. Retrieved from https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1863/Ukraine_USAID_CDCS_2019-2024_Public_EN_12.pdf.

  • VanLaningham, J., Johnson, D. R., & Amato, P. (2001). Marital happiness, marital duration, and the U-shaped curve: Evidence from a five-wave panel study. Social Forces,79, 1313–1341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Varışoğlu, Y. Y., & Oskay, Ü. Y. (2018). The meaning of sexuality in advanced age: A qualitative study in Turkey. Sexuality and Culture,22, 1507–1515.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheeless, L. R., Wheeless, V. E., & Baus, R. (1984). Sexual communication, communication satisfaction, and solidarity in the developmental stages of intimate relationships. Western Journal of Communication,48, 217–230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitehouse, H., Lanman, J. A., Downey, G., Fredman, L. A., Swann, W. B., Jr., Lende, D. H., et al. (2014). The ties that bind us: Ritual, fusion, and identification. Current Anthropology,55, 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wlodarski, R., & Dunbar, R. I. (2013). Examining the possible functions of kissing in romantic relationships. Archives of Sexual Behavior,42, 1415–1423.

    Google Scholar 

  • Worsley, R., Bell, R. J., Gartoulla, P., & Davis, S. R. (2017). Prevalence and predictors of low sexual desire, sexually related personal distress, and hypoactive sexual desire dysfunction in a community-based sample of midlife women. The Journal of Sexual Medicine,14, 675–686.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yakushko, O. (2005). Ambivalent sexism and relationship patterns among women and men in Ukraine. Sex Roles,52, 589–596.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeh, H. C., Lorenz, F. O., Wickrama, K. A. S., Conger, R. D., & Elder, G. H., Jr. (2006). Relationships among sexual satisfaction, marital quality, and marital instability at midlife. Journal of Family Psychology,20, 339–343.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaleski, E. H., & Schiaffino, K. M. (2000). Religiosity and sexual risk-taking behavior during the transition to college. Journal of Adolescence,23, 223–227.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This was no funding to report for this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Family Life, Brigham Young University, 2054 JFSB, Provo, UT, 84604, USA

    Chelom E. Leavitt

  2. Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA

    Eva S. Lefkowitz

  3. Educational and Clinical Psychology, Istanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Yudum Akyil

  4. Department of Foreign Languages, Kyiv Taras Shevchenko University, Kyiv, Ukraine

    Katia Serduk

Authors
  1. Chelom E. Leavitt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eva S. Lefkowitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yudum Akyil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Katia Serduk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chelom E. Leavitt.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Katia Serduk—Retirement, Kyiv Taras Shevchenko University.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Leavitt, C.E., Lefkowitz, E.S., Akyil, Y. et al. A Cross-Cultural Study of Midlife Relational and Sexual Health: Comparing Ukraine to the U.S. and Turkey. Sexuality & Culture 24, 649–670 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-019-09654-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-019-09654-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation