Eons Sex & Intimacy Survey Reveals Top Five Romance Basics And Top Five Tips for Getting More After 50
Eons™, the 50-plus media company for loving life on the flipside of 50, created by Jeff Taylor, today announced the results of its first annual Eons Sex & Intimacy Survey. The survey sampled the opinions of more than 4,000 respondents age 50 and over, forming a portrait of a generation that is emotionally intimate with their partner (82 percent say they are somewhat or very emotionally close to their significant other) and as interested as ever about sex (58 percent say sex is very or extremely important in their lives).
“Boomers are the ‘Sexual Revolution’ generation; this is part of the boomer DNA,” said Taylor, founder and CEO of Eons. “As they bound into their 50s and 60s today, they’re graduating to what they are defining as prime time for intimacy, romance and sex. The Eons Sex & Intimacy Survey is shattering myths about the health, sex drive and prowess of this generation. They’re not settling into a sexual rut. They’re experimenting and celebrating their health and close relationships.”
In its inaugural Eons Sex & Intimacy Survey, Eons surveyed visitors to its Web site about their health, marital status, home life and sexual activity, and their attitudes about intimacy, romance, fantasies and lovemaking. Among the 50-64 age group that represented most respondents – 53 percent male and 47 percent female – the Survey reveals a generation that is exploding myths about the effects of age on sexual performance, the importance of intimacy and romance to their overall sex lives and their robust appetite for sex.
Additional results can be viewed at http://www.eons.com/media/2007SexAndIntimacy.pdf.
Among the “mythbusters” revealed by the Eons Sex & Intimacy Survey:
- Boomers are having sex with mythbusting frequency – 59 percent are having sex at least once a week.
- Boomers are adventurous and open to new sexual experiences – 86 percent would be open to trying something new.
- Boomers are emotionally closer now to their partners than they have ever been, and expect to be closer still as they get older – 57 percent responded that they feel very close, and 41 percent expect to be even closer to their partners in 5 years.
- Couples understand the importance of fun time (outside the bedroom) as key to satisfying, fully rounded relationships – 84 percent spend time together as a couple having fun.
- Menopause does little to slow down boomer sexual activity – only 15 percent say menopause has affected their sex life “a lot.”
- After sex, most boomers want to keep the intimacy growing – 69 percent like to cuddle and talk after sex.
- Single boomers are increasingly turning to the Web to meet new people – 20 percent turn to the Internet as the best way to meet someone.
“You can see the legacy of the 60s generation in today’s boomers,” said Taylor. “According to our survey, 50-plus singles are making sex a part of their relationships very soon, with 49 percent willing to have sex on or before the third date. And, as you’d expect from children of the ‘Free Sex’ era, they’ve had plenty of experience, with 47 percent telling us they’ve had more than 10 sexual partners in their lives.”
Dr. Robert Butler, president and CEO of the International Longevity Center—USA and co-author of The New Love and Sex After 60 (Ballantine Books, 2002), says the public should be better-educated on the importance of sexuality for health, quality of life and the human experience.
“As we live longer and more healthily, we are capable of more years of sexual and intimate expression,” Dr. Butler said. “We need to revolutionize our thinking about what it means to be older. It is time we have a frank discussion about sexual preferences or problems and promote sexual self-awareness in later life. The Eons Sex & Intimacy Survey is a valuable contribution to this important dialog.”
The Eons Sex & Intimacy Survey, which consists of 46 questions, yielded a general consensus about the elements necessary for greater intimacy, as well as some tips for increasing the frequency of sex in couples over 50.
Top five romance basics:
- Talk with and express your appreciation for your partner.
- Take better care of your body.
- Have fun as a couple and laugh together.
- Relive your first moments together.
- Show more non-sexual affection.
Top five tips for getting more after 50:
- Get the kids out of the house.
- Rethink the size of your bed. (Boomers who sleep in queen-sized beds have sex more often).
- Try sleeping naked.
- Suggest a new sexual position or place to have sex.
- Cuddle before and after sex.
“We found that people over 50 don’t mind talking about their sexual attitudes with their spouses and partners,” added Taylor. “We asked a very interesting question in our survey, ‘How many of your answers to this survey would you be willing to share with your partner?’ We were pleased to find that 84 percent of respondents would discuss all their answers. This generation grew up talking about sex, and they’re still at it.”
The Eons Sex & Intimacy Survey can be taken online at www.eons.com.
About Eons™
Eons is a 50-plus media company inspiring a generation of boomers and seniors to live the biggest life possible. Founded by Jeff Taylor, creator of Monster.com, Eons has attracted a team of renowned advisors and industry-leading partners and is backed by venture capital financing from General Catalyst Partners and Sequoia Capital. It is supported by corporate founding partners Harrah’s Entertainment, Hyatt Corp., Humana, Inc., Liberty Mutual Group, Fidelity and Verizon Wireless. The company is headquartered in Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston. For more information, visit www.eons.com.
