A Systematic Review of Individual, Psychological and Sociocultural Factors Associated with Safe and Risky Sexual Behavior in Older Adults

Abstract

The incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in older adults has increased with sexual intercourse being the most common mode of transmission. This demonstrates their participation in risky sexual behaviors. The objective of this systematic review was to determine the individual, psychological, and sociocultural factors associated with the use or nonuse of condoms for vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse and having one or multiple sexual partners in older adults. Primary research articles with correlational designs that identify an association between some individual, psychological, or sociocultural factors with the use or nonuse of condoms for vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse or with monogamous or non-monogamous relationships in older adults were included. Some of the variables associated with safe and risky sexual behaviors were the power of sexual decision-making, self-silencing, the importance of sex, income, frequency of sex, education, and social capital. The literature regarding factors associated with safe and risky sexual behaviors in older adults is scarce and represents an area of opportunity for future research.

Keywords:

• Safe sex
• risky sexual behaviors
• individual factors
• psychological factors
• sociocultural factors
• older adults

Acknowledgments

We thank Sergio Lozano-Rodriguez, M.D. for his help in translating and editing the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).