Research on sexual behavior in late life is limited but is growing. Despite ageist stereotypes associating old age with asexuality, older adults continue to desire and engage in sexual behavior. Previous studies have examined the relationship between health and the ability to engage in sexual behavior, sexual satisfaction, desire, or interest in sex. Research has yet to examine the potential reverse of this relationship, where sexual behavior may serve as a protective factor against health outcomes. This dissertation examined three research questions to test the relationship between sexual activity or hugging and self-reported health outcomes (e.g., arthritis and diabetes) and biomarkers (e.g., C-reactive protein (CRP) and hemoglobin (HbA1c)). The first question explored whether sexual activity or hugging is associated health outcomes. The second question explored whether social support modifies the relationship between sexual activity or hugging and health outcomes. The final question explored whether sexual activity or hugging and demographic or health variables interact as moderators to health outcomes. This study examined data of older adults between 57 and 85 years, from two waves of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP). The subjective health outcomes were self-reported arthritis and self-reported diabetes diagnoses. Objective health measures were analyzed using biomarkers. Both C-reactive protein and HbA1c were collected from dried blood spots. The main independent variables of interest were sexual activity and hugging. Sexual activity was assessed by combining participant responses to frequency of intercourse, foreplay and masturbation in the last 12 months. Hugging was assessed by participant responses to frequency of close physical contact over the last 12 months. Results from question one indicated at wave 1, engaging in hugging was associated with higher likelihood of self-reported arthritis (OR = 1.23, p = 0.029), while sexual activity was associated with decreased likelihood of diabetes (OR = 0.61, p < 0.001). Examining objective markers of health, sexual activity was associated with 0.25 points lower HbA1c level (p < 0.001). Although some significant results were found at wave 1, none of the associations remained significant when examining change in health at wave 2. The findings from question two examined the interaction of social support and sexual activity or hugging on health outcomes. The interactions between social support and sexual activity or social support and hugging did not significantly influence health at wave 1 or change in health at 2. Question three examined potential moderators of the relationship between sexual activity or hugging and health, including age, race, education, income, gender, and hours of sleep. At wave 1, the findings showed a significant interaction between race and sexual activity associated with a decreased likelihood of reporting arthritis (OR = 0.79, p = 0.021). A significant interaction of age and sexual activity was associated with an increased likelihood of diabetes (OR = 1.04, p = 0.008). At wave 2, a significant interaction between age and hugging was associated with decreased likelihood of arthritis (OR = 0.97, p = 0.006), while the interaction term of sleep and hugging was associated with increased likelihood of diabetes (OR = 1.19, p = 0.015). The results from this study show some support for the exploration of a potential bi-directional pathway between sexual activity or hugging and health. This study provides some evidence indicating the importance of understanding the role of sexual activity or hugging in the lives of older adults, and the possible influence on physical health. Future studies should continue exploring this pathway indicating possible benefits of engaging in sexual activity or hugging on health, and a larger impact on quality of life for older adults who desire to maintain intimate relationships in late life.

Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder with unsatisfactory treatment options and poorly under- stood etiology. Genetic models are a suitable tool for studying this disorder with its high heritability. However, currently available animal models do not cover the broad range of schizophrenia symptoms and are not disorder-specific. Ribonucleic acid binding motif protein 12 gene (RBM12), a novel, high- risk gene for schizophrenia, was recently identified. This thesis aimed to assess the social behavior of schizophrenia-like phenotype in RBM12 zebrafish mutants. The social behavior of mutated adult zebrafish was assessed during free-swimming. Trajectories of each zebrafish were obtained from recordings by the usage of idtracker.ai. Parameters selected to quantify the social behavior of the zebrafish were chosen based on common symptoms of humans with schizophrenia. Inter-fish distance was examined as an indicator of preferred personal space since humans diagnosed with schizophre- nia have an increased need for a greater personal space compared to mentally healthy individuals. Wall-hugging, increased speed and bottom-dwelling were studied as indicators of anxiety, a common comorbid symptom of schizophrenia. The RBM12 mutants exhibited a greater inter-fish distance than their wild-type siblings during three-dimensional recordings. They however, did not demonstrate an increased inter-fish distance during two-dimensional recordings. The mutated zebrafish displayed a higher average speed and greater wall-hugging, indicating anxiety. It can be concluded that RBM12 mutation produces partial symptomatology consistent with humans diagnosed with schizophrenia, providing a promising animal model. The current work provided novel insight into the neural substrates of schizophrenia and for potential drug screening for this disorder. Further research is needed to fully characterise schizophrenia-like symptoms in this RBM12 animal model.