An overview of sexual behaviour research in later life—Quantitative and qualitative findings

Abstract

Aim: This article provides an overview of current sexual behaviour research in later life by describing associated factors, including the physical and psychological benefits. Methods: Recent systematic reviews were interrogated for findings on sexual behaviour research in adults aged 60+. Results: Regardless of research methods employed, all studies showed that there were a range of physical and psychological benefits to remaining sexually active in later life. While quantitative studies placed an emphasis on measuring penile-vaginal intercourse, they provided no definitive conclusion about the benefits due to ‘inconsistent results’ across studies. Qualitative studies described the myriad wa..