Factors influencing the quality of sexual life in the older adults: A scoping review

Abstract

ObjectiveOlder people are often considered asexual, but sex is still important for older adults. So, this review aimed to analyze relevant studies on the sexual life of older adults to clarify factors, and provide a basis for their quality of sexual life. MethodA scoping review was performed according to Arksey and O’Malley’s framwork, aiming to identify eligible research studies in PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases. Peer-reviewed articles published in Chinese or English language from January 2012 to April 2022 were retrieved. All of identified studies were screened, extracted, and analyzed independently by two researchers. ResultA total of 7,374 studies were retrieved, and 13 eligible studies were finally included. The factors affect the sexual quality of life in older adults that included physiological, sociocultural, and health factors and being affected by marital relationships and a lack of relevant knowledge. ConclusionThe factors that affect the quality of old people’s sex life interact and influence each other. Medical and health professionals can assist with the improvement of sexual health.