Defining sexuality in later life: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE: To identify whether a consistent definition of sexuality is used across research articles to describe sexuality in later life for heterosexual men and women. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted that examined how researchers define sexuality for heterosexual adults. Peer-reviewed journal articles on sexuality published between 1999 and 2018 were examined for the presence of sexuality definitions. Sexuality themes discussed in each article were recorded, and results were tabulated. RESULTS: Few articles explicitly provide a definition of 'sexuality' as it pertains to later life. Definitions from articles that defined sexuality explicitly were inconsistent across studies. Topics included in implicit and explicit definitions of sexuality were disparate across studies and included a diverse range of sexuality dimensions. CONCLUSION: Greater consistency is needed in how "sexuality" in later life is defined across studies and should be informed by data so that it accurately reflects the sexual experiences of older adults.