Sexuality of midlife and older women: A review of theory use

Sexual experiences of older adults remain underexplored. This review examined 21 articles focused on the sexuality of midlife and older women to identify theories used and understand how theory informs this literature. Reviewed articles described a dominant narrative of sexual decline in later life but positioned their own work as counternarratives. A majority applied social constructionist, critical, or interpretivist orientations, balancing material and socially constructed aspects of sexuality. Theories were most likely to inform the purpose and conclusions and least likely to inform limitations or descriptions of study samples. Findings support the need to affirm diverse sexual experiences of women.