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Background Previous research showed negative associations between physical activity and loneliness in older adults. However, information on associations among middle-aged adults is scarce. In this prognostic factor study, we investigated if starting or stopping to follow the WHO physical activity recommendations was associated with changes in perceived social exclusion and loneliness in this age bracket. Methods We used longitudinal representative data of participants aged 40 to 64 years from the German Ageing Survey waves in 2014 and 2017 (analytical sample = 4,264 observations, 54% women). Perceived social exclusion was investigated with the scale from Bude and Lantermann. Loneliness was quantified with the 6-items loneliness scale from De Jong Gierveld. Information from the International Physical Activity Survey items on the time spend in moderate and vigorous physical activity per week was dichotomized. Participants were coded as either following or not following the WHO´s physical activity recommendations of spending at least 150 min of moderate, 75 min of vigorous or an appropriated combination of physical activity per week. We investigated the within (individual) association between starting and stopping to follow WHO´s physical activity recommendations and perceived social exclusion as well as loneliness in asymmetric fixed effects regressions. Analyses were adjusted for age, marital status, employment status, social-network size, general self-efficacy, depressive symptoms, self-rated health, BMI, comorbidities, and physical functioning (SF-36). Results Stopping to follow the physical activity recommendations from the WHO was associated with perceived social exclusion (ß= 0.09 p = 0.04) but not with loneliness (ß=-0.01, p = 0.71). Starting to follow the WHO physical activity recommendations was neither associated with social exclusion (ß=-0.02, p = 0.54) nor with loneliness (ß=-0.01, p = 0.74) in adjusted asymmetric fixed effects regressions. Conclusion In middle-aged adults, longitudinal associations were found for physical activity and perceived social exclusion. Perceived social exclusion may be prevented by maintaining at least 150 min of moderate physical activities per week, which is the WHO physical activity recommendation. Future research should investigate moderators and mediators in the association between physical activity and social exclusion as well as loneliness.

Background Little attention has been paid to the association of job-related factors with loneliness and perceived social isolation. More specifically, studies are missing examining how professional environment is associated with loneliness and perceived social isolation. Aims To examine how the professional environment is associated with loneliness and perceived social isolation (also stratified by sex and age group). Methods Data were taken from the latest wave of the nationally representative German Ageing Survey (focusing on individuals aged 43 and older living in private households, n  = 3,576, mean age: 68.6 years, SD: 11.1 years, with 52.1% being female). Occupations were grouped into six professional environments (realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional professions) grounded on Holland’s model. More than 550 occupations were classified to one of those six categories based on Stuth’s approach. Loneliness and perceived social isolation were quantified using established tools. Results Our findings revealed that individuals in social (β=-0.08, p  < 0.01), enterprising (β=-0.09, p  < 0.01), and conventional professions (β=-0.07, p  < 0.05) had lower perceived social isolation scores compared to those in realistic professions among the total sample (and particularly among those aged 65 and older); however, no differences in loneliness were observed. Notably, some effects were sex-specific, with men in conventional professions and women in artistic professions experiencing lower perceived social isolation scores. Enterprising professions in particular mainly yielded positive outcomes across groups. Discussion Our findings underlined the association between professional environment and perceived social isolation, varying by age and sex. Conclusions Enterprising professions in particular may assist in avoiding perceived social isolation, pending longitudinal evidence. Studies from other countries are recommended.

Background Limited lung function represents a serious health impairment. However, studies investigating social inequalities in limited lung function are rare. Thus, the current study investigates which socioeconomic groups are the most affected by overall limited lung function and severely limited lung function. Methods Data from the population-based German Aging Survey were used ( N  = 4472), with participants being 40 + years old. Lung function was assessed by the peak flow test. Education, income, and occupational prestige were used as socioeconomic indicators. Results We found that overall limited lung function was highly prevalent across the whole sample, with about 33% (Women: 35%; Men: 30%) having overall limited lung function and 8% (Women: 7%; Men: 8%) having severely limited lung function. Socioeconomic differences in limited lung function emerged for all three indicators, education, income, and occupational prestige, in both men and women in single effect analyses. These differences persisted for occupational prestige and income when controlling for all indicators simultaneously. Conclusions Thus, overall and severely limited lung function are highly prevalent health conditions. Men and women with a low occupational position and those with low income are the most affected. Socioeconomic indicators cannot be used interchangeably when studying health inequalities in lung functioning. Occupational hazards and physical working conditions are likely to constitute major risks of health inequalities in limited lung functioning and should be investigated as such by future studies.

Abstract Background and Objectives Sexual satisfaction is an important part of sexual health and overall well-being. A large number of older people continue to be sexually active, and many are satisfied with their sex life. However, little is known about whether sexual satisfaction differs according to sexual orientation. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate whether sexual satisfaction differs according to sexual orientation in later life. Research Design and Methods The German Ageing Survey is a nationally representative study of the German population aged 40+. In the third wave (2008), data on both sexual orientation (heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, other) and sexual satisfaction (1—very dissatisfied to 5—very satisfied) were collected. Multiple regression analyses with sampling weights were performed (stratified by age: 40–64; 65+). Results We included 4,856 individuals in our analysis (mean age 57.6 ± 11.6; 40–85 years, 50.4% were women, 92.3% (n = 4,483) were heterosexual, and 7.7% (n = 373) were sexual minority adults). In sum, 55.9% of heterosexual individuals and 52.3% of sexual minority adults were satisfied or very satisfied with their sex life. Multiple regression analysis showed that sexual orientation was not significantly associated with sexual satisfaction among both middle-aged (β = 0.07; p = .45) and older adults (β = 0.01; p = .87). Higher sexual satisfaction was associated with lower loneliness scores, partnership satisfaction, importance of sexuality and intimacy, and better health status. Discussion and Implications Our analysis showed that sexual orientation was not significantly associated with sexual satisfaction among both middle-aged and older adults. Lower loneliness, better health status, and partnership satisfaction significantly contributed to higher sexual satisfaction. Approximately 45% of older individuals (aged 65 years and older), regardless of their sexual orientation, were still satisfied with their sex life.