{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,11,3]],"date-time":"2026-11-03T07:57:30Z","timestamp":1793692650241,"version":"4.5.1"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,9]],"date-time":"2024-05-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1715212800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a prevalent condition that affects middle-aged and older men, impacting their sexual health and overall wellbeing. We aimed to investigate the relationship between social support and ED among this specific population.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>Data were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Social support was assessed through various dimensions, including emotional support, material support, and network support. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to examine the association between social support and ED, and a propensity-score-matched (PSM) analysis was further conducted.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Among 1938 middle-aged and older males in the United States, 49.9% had a history of ED. ED was more prevalent in older individuals and those with comorbidities such as hypertension, prostate disease, higher serum creatinine level, and mental problems. Males with lower social support scores had a higher weighted rate of ED (<jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic> &amp;lt; 0.001). After adjusting for multiple variables in logistic regression analysis, a higher social support score was associated with a 19% lower likelihood of ED (weighted odds ratio [OR] 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66\u20130.98, <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic> = 0.032). The association remained consistent after propensity score matching (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.66\u20130.98, <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic> = 0.028).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>Social support appears to be associated with a reduced risk of ED in middle-aged and older men. Further research is needed to better understand this relationship and explore interventions that enhance social support, potentially leading to improved sexual health outcomes.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1332561","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,9]],"date-time":"2024-05-09T05:08:42Z","timestamp":1715231322000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["The relationship between social support and erectile dysfunction in middle-aged and older males"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Danqing","family":"Hu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yan","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yue","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yu","family":"Liu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jing","family":"Han","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(12)60520-0","article-title":"Erectile dysfunction","volume":"381","author":"Shamloul","year":"2013","journal-title":"Lancet."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"469","DOI":"10.5694\/mja2.50167","article-title":"Current diagnosis and management of erectile dysfunction","volume":"210","author":"McMahon","year":"2019","journal-title":"Med J Aust."},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"508","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sxmr.2017.05.004","article-title":"Erectile dysfunction in young men-a review of the prevalence and risk factors","volume":"5","author":"Nguyen","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sex Med Rev."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1838","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2016.12284","article-title":"Erectile dysfunction","volume":"316","author":"Najari","year":"2016","journal-title":"JAMA."},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"633","DOI":"10.1016\/j.juro.2018.05.004","article-title":"Erectile dysfunction: AUA guideline","volume":"200","author":"Burnett","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Urol."},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"539","DOI":"10.1097\/JU.0000000000001367","article-title":"Erectile dysfunction in a sample of sexually active young adult men from a US Cohort: demographic, metabolic and mental health correlates","volume":"205","author":"Calzo","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Urol."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.1370\/afm.1816","article-title":"Erectile dysfunction and undiagnosed diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia","volume":"13","author":"Skeldon","year":"2015","journal-title":"Ann Fam Med"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"162","DOI":"10.1016\/j.euf.2022.08.006","article-title":"Relationship between age, comorbidity, and the prevalence of erectile dysfunction","volume":"9","author":"Pellegrino","year":"2023","journal-title":"Eur Urol Focus."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1336","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsxm.2017.09.007","article-title":"Relationship of blood pressure and erectile dysfunction in men without previously diagnosed hypertension","volume":"14","author":"Heikkila","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Sex Med."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1016\/j.euf.2015.01.003","article-title":"The link between cigarette smoking and erectile dysfunction: a systematic review","volume":"1","author":"Verze","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur Urol Focus."},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"199","DOI":"10.5534\/wjmh.180054","article-title":"Changes in the prevalence and risk factors of erectile dysfunction during a decade: the Korean internet sexuality survey (KISS), a 10-year-interval web-based survey","volume":"37","author":"Song","year":"2019","journal-title":"World J Mens Health."},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S41","DOI":"10.1177\/0022146510383499","article-title":"Stress and health: major findings and policy implications","volume":"51","author":"Thoits","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Health Soc Behav."},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1072","DOI":"10.1093\/geronb\/gbx084","article-title":"Direct and indirect pathways from social support to health?","volume":"74","author":"Kim","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci."},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"284","DOI":"10.1192\/bjp.bp.115.169094","article-title":"Social support and protection from depression: systematic review of current findings in Western countries","volume":"209","author":"Gariepy","year":"2016","journal-title":"Br J Psychiatry."},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1231","DOI":"10.5664\/jcsm.10542","article-title":"Racial\/ethnic differences in the beneficial effect of social support on sleep duration","volume":"19","author":"Johnson","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Clin Sleep Med."},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1129","DOI":"10.1016\/0895-4356(93)90112-E","article-title":"High, usual and impaired functioning in community-dwelling older men and women: findings from the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Successful Aging","volume":"46","author":"Berkman","year":"1993","journal-title":"J Clin Epidemiol."},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"186","DOI":"10.1093\/oxfordjournals.aje.a112674","article-title":"Social networks, host resistance, and mortality: a nine-year follow-up study of Alameda County residents","volume":"109","author":"Berkman","year":"1979","journal-title":"Am J Epidemiol."},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1128076","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2023.1128076","article-title":"Relationship between weight-adjusted-waist index and erectile dysfunction in the United State: results from NHANES 2001-2004","volume":"14","author":"Cao","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Endocrinol."},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"930272","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2022.930272","article-title":"Association between dietary inflammation and erectile dysfunction among US adults: a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2004","volume":"9","author":"Ruan","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Nutr."},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.1089\/met.2008.0034","article-title":"The product of fasting glucose and triglycerides as surrogate for identifying insulin resistance in apparently healthy subjects","volume":"6","author":"Simental-Mendia","year":"2008","journal-title":"Metab Syndr Relat Disord."},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1228","DOI":"10.1080\/03610910902859574","article-title":"Using the standardized difference to compare the prevalence of a binary variable between two groups in observational research","volume":"38","author":"Austin","year":"2009","journal-title":"Commun Stat Simul Comput."},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"54","DOI":"10.1016\/S0022-5347(17)34871-1","article-title":"Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study","volume":"151","author":"Feldman","year":"1994","journal-title":"J Urol."},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"168","DOI":"10.1038\/nrurol.2015.315","article-title":"The role of the sexual partner in managing erectile dysfunction","volume":"13","author":"Li","year":"2016","journal-title":"Nat Rev Urol."},{"key":"B24","first-page":"149","article-title":"Psychological and social support in patients with erectile dysfunction and its relationship with stigma","volume":"32","author":"Tianmin","year":"2023","journal-title":"Chinese J Hum Sexual."},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"164","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dhjo.2013.11.001","article-title":"Social support, depression, and physical disability: age and diagnostic group effects","volume":"7","author":"Jensen","year":"2014","journal-title":"Disabil Health J."},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"714","DOI":"10.1037\/0882-7974.20.4.714","article-title":"Exploring age differences in the stress-buffering function of social support","volume":"20","author":"Krause","year":"2005","journal-title":"Psychol Aging."},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"253","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pmr.2009.12.012","article-title":"Aging and disability: biopsychosocial perspectives","volume":"21","author":"Molton","year":"2010","journal-title":"Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am."},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"663","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1743-6109.2011.02582.x","article-title":"Men's health: sexual dysfunction, physical, and psychological health\u2013is there a link?","volume":"9","author":"Tan","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Sex Med."},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e2021701","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2020.21701","article-title":"Association of diet with erectile dysfunction among men in the health professionals follow-up study","volume":"3","author":"Bauer","year":"2020","journal-title":"JAMA Netw Open."},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1419","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2016-096418","article-title":"Physical activity and exercise for erectile dysfunction: systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"51","author":"Silva","year":"2017","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med."},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"94","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2017.00094","article-title":"Prevalence and associated factors of erectile dysfunction among married men in Vietnam","volume":"5","author":"Van Vo","year":"2017","journal-title":"Front Public Health."},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.1186\/s12966-017-0509-8","article-title":"The association between social support and physical activity in older adults: a systematic review","volume":"14","author":"Lindsay Smith","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act."},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"259","DOI":"10.1186\/s13643-017-0632-2","article-title":"The impact of social activities, social networks, social support and social relationships on the cognitive functioning of healthy older adults: a systematic review","volume":"6","author":"Kelly","year":"2017","journal-title":"Syst Rev."},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"282","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amjmed.2020.07.015","article-title":"Association of peripheral neuropathy with erectile dysfunction in US men","volume":"134","author":"Hicks","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am J Med."},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.1111\/andr.13439","article-title":"Lycopene intake and the risk of erectile dysfunction in US adults: NHANES 2001-2004","volume":"12","author":"Gao","year":"2023","journal-title":"Andrology."},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"94","DOI":"10.1093\/ageing\/afac094","article-title":"Erectile dysfunction predicts mortality in middle-aged and older men independent of their sex steroid status","volume":"51","author":"Antonio","year":"2022","journal-title":"Age Ageing."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1332561\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,9]],"date-time":"2024-05-09T05:08:46Z","timestamp":1715231326000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1332561\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,9]]},"references-count":36,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1332561"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1332561","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-2565","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,9]]},"article-number":"1332561"}}