research paper topics on human sexuality

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188 Best Human Sexuality Research Topics For Your Assignment

The key to writing a great research project is coming up with a great idea that is original and interesting to both yourself and the reading audience. Professors are always looking to find projects that thoroughly answer questions with evidence-based facts and examples in support of a well-thought thesis argument.

In the field of human sexuality, it is very important to brainstorm several interesting topics for a research project at any level (i.e., high school through graduate school). Our expert writers have put together this list of human sexuality research topics that may provide you with some inspiration to build a great project for a high school, college, or graduate assignment.

What Is Human Sexuality?

The subject of human sexuality is a broad term that is best defined as the way people express themselves and experience sexuality, including biological, erotic, physical, emotional, social and spiritual behaviors and feelings.

The subject has had varied and historical contexts over time, and because there are so many directions one takes in researching and writing an assignment in this subject, you should do your due diligence in exploring several options before starting on a project.

How to Choose Research Topics on Human Sexuality?

Here are five simple steps to follow when selecting a topic in this area of study. If you get started early (within a day or two of receiving the assignment prompt) you should have no trouble narrowing your options to one or two related ideas that you can build upon:

Brainstorm 4 – 5 Research Ideas: The easiest step in the process is brainstorming. You can write a list of ideas taken from class lectures, assigned readings, interesting articles from journals, or the internet. Your goal should be to write on something in which you learn something new by pushing the envelope.
Select a Manageable Research Topic: Choose a broad subject and extract a few ideas and formulate a few questions you would like to explore. This will help you bring your topic down to earth so that you aren’t overwhelmed by having to write a comprehensive paper on the entire scope of human sexuality.
Narrow the Focus of Your Topic: You need to take your broad idea and make it more specific. Even if you find yourself changing your mind, you will be getting closer to a topic that is worth the effort you will put into completing the assignment.
Define Your Topic as a Question: Once you have focused your topic on something clear and concise, it would be helpful to define your idea into a specific research question that will put your paper into context and that will guide you when crafting your thesis statement.
Conduct Background Research: At this point, you should a great idea of the content you will need to search for to craft your research paper. Spend a few hours searching the web for background information. Start building an outline and keep detailed lists of in-depth academic research you will need to do.

Human Sexuality Research Paper Topics For High School Students

Many high school students are just developing their researching and writing skills. Research projects at this level are usually 5 pages long and require about two weeks to complete. The following ideas are manageable and appropriate for this level:

How do bad habits impact healthy sexuality in teenagers?
How do sex laws in the U.S. affect how people view sexuality?
How do biochemistry and medication affect sexual behaviors in adults?
Should society promote greater awareness of the importance of good sexual health?
How do teenage bisexuals internalize their feelings as it relates to sexual stigmas?
What are some of the physical changes that contribute to reduced sexual desire in men?
How can one better understand human sexuality through the lifecycle?
How to safely navigate the hookup culture among millennials?
What are the negative effects of sexting in young adults?
What do young people know about gender identification?
At what age should students learn about human sexuality?
How have sexual behaviors changed in young adults in the 21st century?
How to deal with the social stigma that comes with identifying as LGBTQ?
How can therapy help in situations where a partner has indulged in extramarital sex?
What are some of the physical changes that contribute to reduced sexual desire in women?
What are some of the biggest concerns young people have about gender?
Has the majority of society accepted same-sex marriages?
How do young people view consensual and non-consensual sexual experiences?
How are the sex lives negatively impacted by couples going through midlife crises?
Why is there a stigma for being sexually inexperienced before turning 18?
Are schools adequately providing enough education about human sexuality?
What impact has the internet had on sexual behaviors in young adults?
How important are sexual stimuli in creating sexual responses among married couples?
What are the major milestones males will experience in their lifespan?
How has human sexuality evolved over the generations?
Are sex educators adequately prepared to instruct today’s youth?
How does healthy and happiness affect the way teenagers feel about their sexuality?
How prevalent is extramarital sex in couples between the ages of 30 and 40?
What role do parents play in explaining human sexuality to their children?
What are the major milestones females will experience in their lifespan?
What role does religion play in the way people perceive human sexuality?
What are the most common questions young people have about sexual orientation?

Human Sexuality Psychology Research Paper Topics For College Students

These human sexuality topics for a research paper are more difficult than the ones listed above. At the college level, most students will write 1 or 2 research papers per semester (a midterm and a final) and will require about a month to complete. Here are some great ideas to consider:

How do psychological interpretations impact how young people view sexuality?
What are the psychological changes towards sexuality that occur with age?
In what ways does a person’s environment affect human sexuality?
What are the most common psychological dimensions in sexual behavioral health?
What are some of the biggest factors that cause reduced sexual desire in men?
Can marriages remain healthy despite sexual inactivity for prolonged periods?
How are sexual behavior patterns different in men and women?
How does the desire for being a parent influence sexual behavior in adults?
How do sexual images affect attention bias and recognition?
How have historical investigations on sexuality influenced modern perceptions of sex?
What are some mental health issues that influence sexual violence in adults?
What effects do anti-depressants have on sexual behaviors?
How do sexual practices in people affect behavioral changes?
How does the loss of a partner influence change in sexual desire in males and females?
What are the best or most effective treatments for sex addicts?
How do married couples and non-married couples view sexuality differently?
What are some of the biggest factors that cause reduced sexual desire in women?
How does infidelity impact human sexuality in married couples?
How has the definition of human sexuality changed over the last century?
How has the way we define sex addiction changed in the 21st century?
How do psychological needs influence sexual behaviors in young adults?
How can people overcome destructive sexual behaviors?
How are common and alternative sexual behaviors different across age groups?
How does infertility affect sexual desire in adults?
What impact does the media have on the way people perceive sexuality?
How do different typologies of adherence influence sexual satisfaction?
How do people become addicted to sex?
What impact have psychologists had in advancing the study of human sexuality?
Should psychological assessments be mandatory before sentencing sexual offenders?
What are the biggest social prohibitions against human sexuality?
What role do gender definitions have on a child’s understanding of sexuality?
What are the psychological dimensions of human sexual health and behaviors?

Good Human Sexuality Research Topics For Graduate School Students

Graduate research projects are significantly harder and often become a starting point for future studies if students wish to pursue a degree that incorporates human sexuality. These ideas require a lot of research, so students need to get started on these projects as early as possible:

How does school-based education on condom use influence sexual behaviors?
What effect does alcohol and/or drug use have on human sexuality?
What is the correlation between condom use and erection problems in young men?
Should comprehensive sex education be mandatory in all U.S. public schools?
What has sexual behavior increased among adolescents in the U.S.?
How has human sexuality been depicted in major art pieces of the 20th century?
What impact has the feminist movement had on our perceptions of human sexuality?
Should we learn more about the rise of sexuality among children in modern society?
What are the major characteristics of people that identify as asexual?
What can neurobiology tell us about sexual behaviors in adults?
Should sexual education classes encourage abstinence more than they do now?
How did England’s Victorian society control female sexuality?
Has modern technology caused virginity to lose its sense of virtue among young people?
How have birth control policies changed in the U.S. over the last 50 years?
Is abstinence-only sex education a great tactic to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies?
How important is sex education in public and private schools?
How did ancient societies view human sexuality differently than we do today?
In what ways does gender sexuality matter as it relates to human rights?
What do people in the military forces feel about human sexuality perceptions?
How is sexual orientation depicted in the Bible?
How can we use sex education to help promote sexual violence?
What are the perceived sexual and emotional satisfaction across different contexts?
How do people of different ethnic groups perceive human sexual experiences differently?
How do people view flirting and seduction differently in the U.S. versus the U.K.?
What do understand about gender identification among children?
How are sex education school policies different across the United States?
How can parents handle child sexuality choices without discouraging personal choices?
What role should politics play in determining sexual behavior in people?
What are the implications for how women define their experiences with rape?
How should high school teachers orient young people about sexual orientation?
How can we effectively measure sexual inhibition and excitation proneness in men?
How does cultural background affect the way people view human sexuality?

Current Human Sexuality Popular Topics Of Research For Any Level

A great way to capture your reading audience’s attention is to connect with them by writing about something current. You can turn to the web or recently published journals to find what others are currently discussing in the field of human sexuality. Choose something you find interesting from the list below or customize an idea to suit your needs more adequately:

What can we learn from examining the validity of compulsive sexual behavior?
Is the romantic kiss a near-human universal in expressing sexuality?
Why has compulsive sexual behavior increased in adults in the last decade?
Has television had too much of a negative impact on the way teenagers view human sexuality?
How have sexual behaviors among single parents of young children changed in the U.K.?
Would television censorship decrease sexual activity among teenagers?
In what ways has the pandemic limited safe access to sexual health services?
Why do young people continue to put themselves at risk of contracting an STD?
Do young people find it important to express how they identify sexually?
How influential are the early human sexuality studies of the 19th century to today’s research?
How are teenagers expressing sexuality differently now than a decade ago?
How do people perceive PDA differently today than 20 years ago?
Does access to better health services improve sexual health among teenagers?
What are the best techniques for teaching sexuality to teenagers?
Why are adult men attracted to adolescent girls?
In what ways should researchers reshape sexual studies for the 21st century?
What are some of the biggest sexual taboos around the world?
How can we shorten the gap in sexual understanding between parents and teens?
How does the LGBTQ community view virginity differently than the hetero community?
How can technology be used to better understand human sexuality?
How is gender expression in same-sex relationships different than in other relationships?
Are teenagers being sexualized on television and what impact does this have?
What can we learn about sexual needs during the Covid-19 pandemic?
What are some of the factors that affect sexuality in older women?
What factors affect a woman’s sexual arousal in the workplace?
What does it mean to “experiment sexually” in today’s society?
What does it mean to be positive about one’s sexual behaviors?
What are the major factors that affect sexuality in men over 50?
What are today’s biggest myths about human sexuality?
What impact has Covid-19 had on sexual health?
How does the media influence compulsive sexual behavior among teens?
What are the negative effects of engaging in cybersex?

Current Human Sexuality Research Topics In Psychology

There are a lot of topics in human sexuality for research you can find by watching the news, reading newspaper, journal, and magazine articles, and checking the web. The latest topics have a lot of information readily available on the web, but you must be sure the information you use in your research paper comes from reputable and trustworthy sources:

How effective has sex therapy been in treating people who find no pleasure in intercourse?
How has the stigma of having multiple partners led to low self-esteem in adults?
How does an abusive childhood affect sexual health as an adult?
In what ways have people changed their perceptions about having a healthy sex life?
What does it mean to have a healthy sex life in the 21st century?
How have advancements in sex therapy methods helped mental health?
What are some stereotypes that affect the way people view their sexual orientation?
Can pornography be used to help stimulate sexual desire in married couples?
What do we know about the influences sex predators have that cause them to behave in certain ways?
What influence do the fears of contracting an STD have on sexual orientation?
What do we know about human sexuality that can be used to prevent sexual predators from acting on their desires?
How much influence do parents have on their children’s sexual orientations?
How is sexual attraction affected by psychological characteristics developed at an early age?
How much influence did Sigmund Freud have on today’s study of human sexuality?
What effects can sexual play during childhood have on mental development?
What are some anomalies of reproductive organs that affect self-confidence?
What significance does sexual health have in determining a person’s mental health?
How does mental health affect the way a person approaches sexual relationships?
What are some factors that contribute to instances of pedophilia?
What are the biggest psychological issues related to human sexuality?
How does race affect how people view human sexuality?
How has the fluidity of sexual orientation changed in the last half-century?
How do covert rendezvous help stimulate sexual experiences?
How has collaborative pornography viewing impacted the quality of relationships?
What are the biggest links between sexual behaviors and violent behaviors?
Can sexual therapy have a positive effect on sexual predators?
How is the sexual psychology of women different from that of men?
What is the safest way to talk to our children about pornography?
How do rape victims cope with the stigma that comes from revealing clothing?
Is there such a thing as too much porn for our sexual health?
What can victims of child sexual abuse suffer from mentally as adults?
What is the psychological impact of traveling long distances for sex?

Hot Research Topics In Human Sexuality For A Large Project

Sometimes you will find hot topics being discussed everywhere you go. These can stem from a social or legal issue that you hear about in the news and that has drawn a lot of attention. Here are some ideas our experts have found that are currently being discussed:

How do personal finances influence people’s use of internet dating sites?
What does it mean to have sex in the 21st century?
How common is infidelity in the United Kingdom versus the United States?
What are the challenges in having a healthy sex life after a serious physical injury?
What is the difference between love and sexual attraction?
What is the best way to keep their children safe from sexual abuse?
What are the similarities and differences in courtship practices across cultures?
Is it ethical to prevent underage marriages in sovereign nations?
What does it mean to be sexually “normal” in today’s society?
What are the major stereotypes associated with aging and sexual health?
How effective are HIV awareness campaigns that target women in the U.S.?
How has literature changed in the way it expresses human sexual behavior?
What challenges do women face when identifying nonconsensual sexual experiences?
Should same-sex couples be given the same adoption rights as mixed-sex couples?
How do people perceive sex workers in terms of sexual and mental health?
Is there a link between pornography consumption and violence during sex?
How has communication changed to express sexual desires more accurately?
Do people with multiple partners have more satisfactory sexual lives?
What are the similarities and differences between same-sex and mixed-sex couples?
Should teenagers turn to the internet to find answers to question about sexuality?
How can we best protect LGBTQ workers against discrimination?
What does it mean to consent to sex legally in the U.S.?
What do we know about the anatomies of male and female orgasms?
Are male and female-specific gender roles nearing an end?
What influence does pregnancy have on a woman’s sexual desires?
What do the latest advancements in female sexuality research say?
What factors impact the way people develop attitudes toward asexuality?
How can we prevent unwanted teenage pregnancy in third-world countries?

For more professional assistance coming up with topics on this subject or assistance reviewing, editing, or writing a research assignment, contact our online college assignment help service for fast high-quality support. We make the process of creating exceptional assignments that earn the highest scores easy. We are not like the other cheap services you will find on the web; we guarantee our sociology homework help and work is written from scratch by one of our certified academic writers, so you can be sure to find the academic success you deserve.

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EDITORIAL article

Editorial: psychological dimensions in human sexual health and behavior.

$\nFilippo Maria Nimbi$

1 Department of Dynamic, Clinical and Health Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
2 Institute for Sex Research, Sexual Medicine, and Forensic Psychiatry, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
3 Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
4 CPUP: Center for Psychology of Porto University, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Porto University, Porto, Portugal

Editorial on the Research Topic Psychological Dimensions in Human Sexual Health and Behavior

Human sexuality is still an underexplored world, subjected to great taboos and controversies over the decades, representing one of the most challenging areas of research and facing countless political and social demands. In this sense, leading organizations such as the World Health Organization ( WHO, 2014 ) and the World Association for Sexual Health ( WAS, 2014 ) have established sexual health and well-being as human rights and key goals to be achieved worldwide to improve the health-related quality of life. The new message that is being carried out by these entities, is that sexual health not only concerns reproductive issues, sexual problems, sexual violence, and sexually transmitted infections, but also positive aspects related to intimate relationships, pleasure, consenting sexual relationships, gender and sexual orientation variety, and sexual functioning among other aspects.

The current special issue on “Psychological Dimensions in Human Sexual Health and Behavior” represents an important step toward a broader biopsychosocial understanding of human sexuality ( Berry and Berry, 2013 ). After a major focus on organic factors underpinning sexual difficulties and behavior, researchers have recognized the need of targeting the psychological factors, and the interplaying role between organic, psychological, and social aspects affecting sexual health and well-being ( Assalian, 2013 ; Brotto et al., 2016 ).

The psychological dimensions are being considered as central elements in the international guidelines for clinical intervention in sexual difficulties and dysfunctions, sexual health promotion programs, and sexual education ( DeRogatis, 2008 ; Althof et al., 2012 ; Bitzer et al., 2013 ; Fugl-Meyer et al., 2013 ; Laan et al., 2013 ; McMahon et al., 2013 ; Mulhall et al., 2013 ; WHO, 2018 ). These psychological dimensions have been framed within conceptualizing models of human sexual response, often including cognitions, emotions, personality traits, psychopathology, socio-cultural, and relational variables influencing sexual functioning and behavior.

In this Research Topic, readers will find interesting and innovative contributes to the understanding of the role of some psychological components in peculiar aspects of sexuality such as cognitive processing and response to sexual stimuli, sexual satisfaction, and adherence to Sexual Double Standards (SDS), coming out in LGBTQI+ population, polyamory, sexual violence, and trauma.

Understanding the processing of sexual stimuli has become prominent in human sexuality research, since it may explain the arousal process and the cognitive mechanisms underlying the sexual response ( Huberman, 2021 ). Erotic processing seems to be very relevant in our brain. Novák et al. reported the absence/inconsistency of spatial attention bias to sexual images and suggested that sexual stimuli are prioritized in memory and cognitive processes compared to other stimuli. Moreover, literature has shown that cultural factors play a primary role in sexual stimuli processing ( Rupp and Wallen, 2008 ). Recognizing the need of including cultural relevance in imaging studies, Cui et al. validated and shared a sexual stimuli database, useful for further research in eastern Asian cultural settings, showing some interesting gender differences in sexual arousal, pleasantness, and sexual attractiveness ratings.

How adherence to gender roles may affect psychology in sexuality represent one of the main challenges in sex research. Álvarez-Muelas et al. showed that relationship satisfaction may be the main predictor of sexual satisfaction and vary according to gender and SDS adherence. These results suggest the urgency to investigate how people internalize attitudes toward the SDS in future studies.

The role of attitudes is also relevant when it comes to LGBTQI+ and Polyamory. For example, Rosati et al. extended the current knowledge on the role of coming out and minority stress experiences among different generations of LGBQ+ people. On average, older adults became self-aware and disclose at a later age than younger men, they seem to be more Catholic and came out more frequently to their Catholic community, with reactions ranging from total acceptance to open rejection. Focusing on women, Baiocco et al. reported that lesbian women had their coming out to both their parents more often than bisexual ones, reporting lower levels of internalized sexual stigma and more positive attitudes toward lesbian/bisexual identity. These new studies contribute to our understanding of coming out peculiarities in varied forms of sexual and relational expressions. Moors et al. with their focus on polyamory, showed that a significant percentage of Americans desire to engage and/or has already engaged in polyamory. Few sociodemographic variables were related to this interest and given that relational intimacy is an important part of most people's lives, understanding the varied ways in which people cross in their intimacy is crucial for social, psychological, and sexological fields ( Vaughan et al., 2019 ).

A significant focus in this special issue has been given to sexual offenders and victims. This is still a relevant topic under different perspectives. International reports ( UNICEF, 2017 ; WHO, 2021 ) draw an alarming figure with respect to the rate of abuse in minors and adults, on the need to find more effective prevention strategies and programs to support victims, as well as the management and treatment of offenders. In this context, Barroso et al. focus on specific kind of abuse such as the study on sexting in adolescence in terms of emotional and behavioral problems, potential markers of psychopathy, childhood trauma and maltreatment, and different forms of aggression. The criminal responsibility of sexual offenders with paraphilic disorders is also a current challenge. Dobbrunz et al. presented an assessment following a two-stage method for the severity of a paraphilic disorder and the criteria for/against diminished capacity according to the German legal system, giving ground to an empirically based assessment of criminal responsibility.

From the victims' side, the psychological factors that may improve/worsen the outcome of traumatic conditions such as child sexual abuse are of extreme interest to offer tailored support weighting to the individual resources/weaknesses ( Daigneault et al., 2007 ). Ensink et al. stress the attention on the possible interaction between sexual abuse history and attachment security, showing that sexually abused children with insecure attachment seem to be more at risk for post-traumatic symptoms. Also, in later stages of life, sexual traumas can have profound consequences on quality of life and sexual relationships. Almås and Pirelli Benestad give specific directions for psychological treatments integrating different clinical approaches, highlighting how traumatized people need particular attention to safety, respect, and acceptance.

The journey to understand sexuality is still long and tortuous, but this special issue represents a small significant step in this direction. Enjoy the reading.

Author Contributions

FMN wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors have reviewed, discussed and accept the final version.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's Note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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Daigneault, I., Hébert, M., and Tourigny, M. (2007). Personal and interpersonal characteristics related to resilient developmental pathways of sexually abused adolescents. Child Adolesc. Psychiatr. Clin. N. Am. 16, 415–434. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2006.11.002

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Fugl-Meyer, K. S., Bohm-Starke, N., Petersen, C. D., Fugl-Meyer, A., Parish, S., and Giraldi, A. (2013). Standard operating procedures for female genital sexual pain. J. Sex. Med. 10, 83–93. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02867.x

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Keywords: sexuality, psychological, psychology, sexual health, clinical psychosexology

Citation: Nimbi FM, Briken P, Abdo CHN and Carvalho J (2021) Editorial: Psychological Dimensions in Human Sexual Health and Behavior. Front. Psychol. 12:739708. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.739708

Received: 11 July 2021; Accepted: 27 July 2021; Published: 25 August 2021.

Edited and reviewed by: Emily K. Sandoz , University of Louisiana at Lafayette, United States

Copyright © 2021 Nimbi, Briken, Abdo and Carvalho. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) . The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Filippo Maria Nimbi, filipponimbi@hotmail.it

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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5 studies that offer fascinating conclusions about human sexuality

Christopher Ryan: Are we designed to be sexual omnivores?

“My hope is that a more accurate updated understanding of human sexuality will lead us to have greater tolerance for ourselves, for each other, greater respect for unconventional relationship configurations like same-sex marriage or polyamorous unions, and that we’ll finally put to rest the idea that men have some innate instinctive right to monitor and control women’s sexual behavior,” Ryan says . “And we’ll see that it’s not only gay people that have to come out of the closet: we all have closets we have to come out of.”

Below, read up on some more lines of research that suggest out-of-the-box ideas about our sexuality.

Question: Is bisexuality a sexual orientation, something that’s temporary or an outgrowth of the sexual fluidity we all exhibit? . Research: In a 2008 study , Lisa M. Diamond of the University of Utah presented the results of a decade-long assessment of nearly 70 women who identified as lesbian, bisexual, or sexually unlabelable. Five times over the course of the study, the women detailed their sexual identities, attractions, behaviors, and their social and familial relationships. . Results: Based on Diamond’s findings, bisexuality is not a “transitional stage that women adopt ‘on the way’ to lesbian identification” or an “experimental phase” for heterosexuals. Her results, instead, supported that, “Bisexuality may best be interpreted as a stable pattern of attraction to both sexes in which the specific balance of same-sex to other-sex desires necessarily varies according to interpersonal and situational factors,” she writes. .
Question: Which comes first—desire or arousal? . Research: In a study from 2004, described in this New York Times article , Ellen Laan, Stephanie Both and Mark Spiering of the University of Amsterdam examined participants’ physical responses to sexual images. . Results: The research indicates that we respond physically to highly sexual visuals before our mind even engages with them. In other words, desire doesn’t precede arousal—it’s the other way around. And we aren’t even aware it’s happening. .
Question: Do men and women respond differently to sexual images? . Research: The same New York Times article describes an Emory University study that tracked participants’ eye movements and brain activity while they looked at sexually explicit photos. . Results: Men and women didn’t have the same reactions, but they might not be the ones you’d expect. Men looked at the faces in the photographs much more than women did, and everyone quickly flipped past close-ups of genitalia. Brain activity was gender-dependent: in particular, men had a lot more activity in the amygdala than women did. .
Question: Does geography influence the body types we idealize and are attracted to? . Research: There’s a lot written about the effects of culture and media on the bodily standards we uphold. But the International Body Project , a survey of 7,434 people worldwide, aimed to investigate whether there were more base-level factors motivating our ideal body types, too. . Results: The researchers found that places with low socioeconomic status tended to value heavier female body types, while places with high socioeconomic status tended to favor thinner bodies—possibly because body fat acts as an indicator of status when resources are scarce. And the effect of media shouldn’t be underestimated: “Our results show that body dissatisfaction and desire for thinness is commonplace in high-SES settings across world regions, highlighting the need for international attention to this problem,” the researchers write. .
Question: Do men and women have different sex drives? . Research: A recent New York Times Magazine article describes a University of Wisconsin, Madison “ meta-analysis ” of more than 800 studies of our sexual habits conducted over 15 years. . Results: The researchers found that “the evidence for an inborn disparity in sexual motivation is debatable,” the Times Magazine piece reports. The study “suggests that the very statistics evolutionary psychologists use to prove innate difference — like number of sexual partners or rates of masturbation — are heavily influenced by culture. All scientists really know is that the disparity in desire exists, at least after a relationship has lasted a while.” Women’s desire does decrease, but not as a matter of course—as a result of monogamy in particular.

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Sexual behavior in the human female by Alfred C. Kinsey [and others] Call Number: Central, HQ18 .U5 I6
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CREGS: Center for Research and Education on Gender and Sexuality Our Mission To produce and disseminate knowledge and resources that address the impact of gender on health and well-being, promote healthy sexuality, and reduce sexual and reproductive health disparities.
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Human Sexuality

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Robert T. Francoeur 4

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This chapter is an attempt to bring together the main themes and the central insights in our understanding of human sexuality today. As these themes and insights are drawn from researchers working in a variety of different disciplines, I will attempt to emphasize the more significant themes and to structure these in a comprehensive synthesis of sexological research and theory as it appears in 1986. My objective is a clear cognitive and perceptual framework that will provide the reader with a clear understanding of the many factors involved in developing a healthy and positive sexuality.

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Sexual Identities and Practices

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Francoeur, R.T. (1987). Human Sexuality. In: Sussman, M.B., Steinmetz, S.K. (eds) Handbook of Marriage and the Family. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7151-3_19

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Discuss segregation and motherhood in labor markets
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How can inequality in American history be justified?
Discuss different types of sex discrimination in modern society
Discuss various factors that cause gender-based inequality
Discuss inequality in human resource practices and processes
Why is inequality between women and men so rampant in developing countries?
How can governments bridge gender gaps between women and men?
Work-home conflict is a sign of inequality between women and men
Explain why women are less wealthy than men
How can workplace gender-based inequality be addressed?

After choosing the gender inequality essay topics they like, students should research, brainstorm ideas, and come up with an outline before they start writing. This will ensure that their essays have engaging introductions and convincing bodies, as well as, strong conclusions.

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This category has ideas that slightly differ from gender equality topics. That’s because equality or lack of it can be measured by considering the representation of both genders in different roles. As such, some gender roles essay topics might not require tiresome and extensive research to write about. Nevertheless, learners should take time to gather the necessary information required to write about these topics. Here are some of the best gender topics for discussion when it comes to the roles played by men and women in society.

Describe gender identity
Describe how a women-dominated society would be
Compare gender development theories
How equally important are maternity and paternity levees for babies?
How can gender-parity be achieved when it comes to parenting?
Discuss the issues faced by modern feminism
How do men differ from women emotionally?
Discuss gender identity and sexual orientation
Is investing in the education of girls beneficial?
Explain the adoption of gender-role stereotyped behaviors
Discuss games and toys for boys and girls
Describe patriarchal attitudes in families
Explain patriarchal stereotypes in family relationships
What roles do women and men play in politics?
Discuss sex equity and academic careers
Compare military career opportunities for both genders
Discuss the perception of women in the military
Describe feminine traits
Discus gender-related issues faced by women in gaming
Men should play major roles in the welfare of their children
Explain how the aging population affects the economic welfare of women?
What has historically determined modern differences in gender roles?
Does society need stereotyped gender roles?
Does nature have a role to play in stereotyped gender roles?
The development and adoption of gender roles

The list of gender essay topics that are based on the roles of each sex can be quite extensive. Nevertheless, students should be keen to pick interesting gender topics in this category.

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Discuss gender mainstreaming purpose
Discuss the issue of gender-based violence
Why is the wage gap so common in most countries?
How can society promote equality in opportunities for women and men in sports?
Explain what it means to be transgender
Discuss the best practices of gender-neutral management
What is women’s empowerment?
Discuss how human trafficking affects women
How problematic is gender-blindness for women?
What does the glass ceiling mean in management?
Why are women at a higher risk of sexual exploitation and violence?
Why is STEM uptake low among women?
How does ideology affect the determination of relations between genders
How are sporting women fighting for equality?
Discuss sports, women, and media institutions
How can cities be made safer for girls and women?
Discuss international trends in the empowerment of women
How do women contribute to the world economy?
Explain how feminism on different social relations unites men and women as groups
Explain how gender diversity influence scientific discovery and innovation

This category has some of the most interesting women’s and gender studies paper topics. However, most of them require extensive research to come up with hard facts and figures that will make academic papers or essays more interesting.

Students in high schools and colleges can pick what to write about from a wide range of gender studies research topics. However, some gender studies topics might not be ideal for some learners based on the given essay prompt. Therefore, make sure that you have understood what the educator wants you to write about before you pick a topic. Our experts can help you choose a good thesis topic . Choosing the right gender studies topics enables learners to answer the asked questions properly. This impresses educators to award them top grades.

The associations of intimacy and sexuality in daily life

Jacques van lankveld.

1 Open Universiteit of the Netherlands, the Netherlands

Nele Jacobs

Viviane thewissen, marieke dewitte.

2 Maastricht University, the Netherlands

Peter Verboon

Associated data.

Supplemental Material, jspr-16-461-File003_Supplement_File for The associations of intimacy and sexuality in daily life: Temporal dynamics and gender effects within romantic relationships by Jacques van Lankveld, Nele Jacobs, Viviane Thewissen, Marieke Dewitte, and Peter Verboon in Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

The experience of emotional intimacy is assumed to play a particularly large role in maintaining sexual desire and partnered sexual activity in romantic relationships of longer duration. It is unclear whether the effect of intimacy on sexual contact between partners is direct or indirect, via its impact on sexual desire. Baumeister and Bratslavsky suggested that a certain increment in emotional intimacy causes a greater increment in sexual desire in men than in women. In the present study, we aimed to test the mediating role of sexual desire between perceived intimacy and sexual partner interaction and the gender effect as hypothesized by Baumeister and Bratslavsky. Experience sampling methodology in the participant’s natural environment was used. At 10 quasi-random moments per day, during 7 consecutive days, 134 participants reported their feelings of emotional intimacy, sexual desire, and sexual activity. The direct effect of intimacy on sexual partner interaction was not significant, but an indirect effect via sexual desire was observed. The strength of the association between intimacy and sexual desire diminished over time, from the strongest effect when intimacy, sexual desire, and sexual activity were measured simultaneously to a very small, but significant effect at an average time lag of 3 hr. At still larger time gaps, no effects were found. Men reported a higher average level of sexual desire than women, but the strength of the link between (increases in) intimacy and sexual desire was not different between the genders. The present findings suggest that in both male and female partners in romantic, long-term relationships, higher levels of intimacy are associated with higher sexual desire, which is, in turn, associated with higher odds for partnered sexual activity to occur. The temporal association of increasing intimacy and subsequent sexual desire appears not to be different in women and men.

Introduction

A satisfying romantic relationship is important for both partners’ quality of life and health status ( Hinchliff & Gott, 2004 ; Hook, Gerstein, Detterich, & Gridley, 2003 ; Impett, Finkel, Strachman, & Gable, 2008 ). Major contributions to relationship quality are made by the couple’s emotional intimacy, as it helps to buffer daily stress and thus enhances partners’ well-being and adjustment ( Levine, 1991 ; Prager, 1997 ; Yoo, Bartle-Haring, Day, & Gangamma, 2014 ), as well as their satisfaction with their sexual relationship ( Hinchliff & Gott, 2004 ; Impett et al., 2008 ; Impett, Muise, & Peragine, 2014 ; Klusmann, 2002 ; Yoo et al., 2014 ). Intimacy is hypothesized to serve both as a trigger for sexual desire and as a reward resulting from the experience of sexual arousal and—in particular—of orgasm ( Basson, 2000 ). In the present study, we aimed to investigate the temporal dynamics of the associations between emotional intimacy, sexual desire, and partnered sexual activity during the day and across multiple days, using high-frequent ecological momentary assessment methodology. We also investigated possible gender differences in these associations.

Multiple definitions of intimacy are found in the literature (e.g., Reis & Patrick, 1996 ; Reis & Shaver, 1988 ; Sternberg, 1986 ). In the present study, we closely follow Sternberg’s (1986) definition of intimacy as the experience of strong feelings of closeness, connectedness, and bonding.

Cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimental studies provided empirical support for the hypothesis that experiencing emotional intimacy plays a major role in maintaining sexual desire and partnered sexual activity in relationships of longer duration ( Birnbaum, Cohen, & Wertheimer, 2007 ; Bodenmann, Pihet, & Kayser, 2006 ; Klusmann, 2002 ; Stephenson & Meston, 2010 ). In a prospective daily diary study, female as well as male partners’ perceived intimacy was associated with higher odds that partnered sexual activity occurred ( Dewitte, van Lankveld, Vandenberghe, & Loeys, 2015 ). However, the connections between intimacy, sexual desire, and sexual interaction have thus far not been investigated extensively. Sexual desire was found to mediate the link between intimacy as an approach goal and sexual satisfaction ( Muise, Impett, & Desmarais, 2013 ), but whether sexual desire also mediates the association of intimacy and sexual contact between partners is unclear. Birnbaum and colleagues conducted a series of experimental studies and found that sexual desire increased when the partner was perceived as or was actually exhibiting higher emotional responsiveness, which is considered a building block of couple intimacy ( Birnbaum et al., 2016 ). This effect was found stronger in women than in men. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the temporal dynamics of the links between intimacy, sexual desire, and partnered sexual activity by collecting data during multiple assessments per day.

The intimacy–sex link in long-term couples is also theorized within the field of sexology to be expressed differently in women and men ( Basson, 2000 ; Schnarch, 1997 ). According to these models, women’s sexual desire is more likely to emerge once they feel emotionally intimate with their partner, whereas among men, intimacy and sexual desire have a weaker connection and sexual desire is more biologically driven ( Basson, 2000 , p. 54). In ongoing romantic relationships of longer duration, spontaneous and proactive sexual desire are considered to be more characteristic of male than of female partners ( Basson, 2000 ; Štulhofer, Carvalheira, & Træen, 2013 ). Evolutionary psychology theorists, on the other hand, although predicting gender differences in partner selection and in openness to engage in sexual intercourse in short-term contacts, propose that gender differences, as well as cultural differences, may be less powerful in shaping sexual attitudes than individual differences ( Hatfield & Rapson, 1993 ), including differences in sociosexual orientation ( Simpson & Gangestad, 1991 ). Building on the theoretical work of Sternberg (1986) and Carver and Scheier (1990) , Baumeister and Bratslavsky (1999) suggested that intimacy as such is not sufficient for inducing passion and sexual desire; instead, only abrupt rises in intimacy, such as when partners make up after a conflict, would allow sexual desire to arise. Thus, passionate love cannot persist during stable levels of emotional intimacy, however high they may be. Although the authors clearly distinguish passionate love from sexual desire, they further consider sexual desire and sexual behavior to both serve as “crude measures of passionate love, particularly when the data pertain to ongoing romantic relationships” ( Baumeister & Bratslavsky, 1999 , p. 52). They further hypothesized that a certain increment in intimacy causes a greater increment in sexual desire in men than in women. In women, the emergence of sexual desire would thus, as a logical consequence, depend on larger increments in intimacy than in men. Support for this proposition that the emergence of sexual desire requires a clear rise in intimacy was found in a longitudinal study ( Rubin & Campbell, 2012 ), in which both partners of 67 heterosexual couples in long-term relationships completed a daily diary for 21 consecutive days. Couples were more likely to report having sex on a particular day if they experienced an increase in intimacy from the previous day. More intense passionate experiences during sex (e.g., having fun during sex) and feeling passionately attracted to one’s partner during sex were similarly reported following the increases in intimacy. However, the gender difference proposed by Baumeister and Bratslavsky (1999) regarding the connection between intimacy and passionate love did not receive support ( Rubin & Campbell, 2012 ).

Relationship duration was found to be an important predictor of sexual partner interaction ( Call, Sprecher, & Schwartz, 1995 ; Klusmann, 2002 ; McCabe & Goldhammer, 2012 ). In a national representative U.S. sample of married couples, the incidence and frequency of partnered sexual activity was found to decline over the life course ( Call et al., 1995 ). Among the factors contributing to this decline were biological aging, diminished health, and habituation to sex. These factors can all be assumed to correlate substantially with longer relationship duration. Women in relationships of longer duration reported lower sexual desire ( McCabe & Goldhammer, 2012 ). The negative association of relationship length and frequency of sexual contact were also found in young adults ( Klusmann, 2002 ). In a sample of German heterosexual students aged 19–32 years living in a romantic partnership, sexual activity and sexual satisfaction were found to decline in both women and men in longer relationships. However, sexual desire was only found to diminish in women, while the desire for tenderness decreased in men whereas it became stronger in women.

The present study

The current study adopted a longitudinal approach for data collection and aimed to replicate and extend previous cross-sectional and longitudinal research ( Dewitte et al., 2015 ; Ein-Dor & Hirschberger, 2012 ; Rubin & Campbell, 2012 ) by enabling time course analyses with a higher temporal resolution of data collected at multiple assessment points ( N = 12) per day. To enhance the ecological validity of the data and the ability to make inferences about temporal associations, experience sampling methodology (ESM; Mehl & Conner, 2012 ; Myin-Germeys et al., 2009 ) was used. The ESM involves high-frequent assessment of behavior and experience in the participant’s natural environment, using random time sampling. The use of ESM has been found to yield realistic representations with high ecological validity of human experiences and behavior in the daily environment as they occur under natural circumstances ( Hektner, Schmidt, & Csikszentmihalyi, 2007 ; Mehl & Conner, 2012 ; Myin-Germeys et al., 2009 ). Another advantage of ESM is the brief time between an event, behavior, or experience and the participant’s report on it, which reduces memory bias compared with other self-report methods that require participants to retrospectively report on their experiences across longer spans of time ( Bolger, Davis, & Rafaeli, 2003 ). Our assumption that sexual desire and intimacy fluctuate considerably during the day and depend on contextual factors that can also be assessed using ESM is the rationale behind using as many as 10 measurements for these variables per day.

The current study, due to the use of multiple assessments per day, provided an assessment of circadian patterns of intimacy, sexual desire, and sexual activity, which will be described in some detail. We further predicted that (A) higher levels of intimacy are, both cross-sectionally and temporally, associated with higher levels of sexual desire and that (B) these associations of intimacy and sexual desire are moderated by gender. As a test of the proposition by Baumeister and Bratslavsky (1999) , we expected a steeper slope in men of the regression coefficient of the association of increases in intimacy with sexual desire compared to women; (C) sexual desire will mediate the association of higher levels of intimacy with more frequent occurrence of partnered sexual interaction; and (D) the association of intimacy and sexual interaction will be moderated by gender, such that these associations will be stronger for women than for men. For men, we expect to find an attenuated association. Relationship duration will be included as a covariate in the analyses, considering that longer relationship duration is associated with lower sexual desire (most prominently in women) and lower frequency of partnered sexual interaction.

Participants were recruited from the circles of acquaintance of seven master’s students of the Open University in the Netherlands who participated in the data collection, securing wide geographical distribution in the Netherlands due to the distance education system of the Open University. Inclusion required that participants (a) were in a romantic heterosexual relationship of at least 6 months, (b) were at least 18 years of age, and (c) spoke Dutch and had completed at least 8 years of education (to ensure comprehension of the questionnaires). Due to the heterogeneity of the student population of the Open University, the sample was heterogeneous with regard to age, working status, education, ethnic background, and income level.

One hundred and thirty-four individuals ( N female = 87) participated. Male participants’ mean age was 46.4 years ( SD = 11.4), and they had completed an average of 13.5 years ( SD = 3.1) of education. Female participants’ mean age was 39.2 years ( SD = 10.7), and they had completed 13.6 years ( SD = 2.4) of education. Average relationship duration was 14.6 years ( SD = 11.0) ranging from 1 to 47 years. Eighty-nine percent of female participants and 96% of male participants identified as Caucasian. Only one of the partners of a couple participated in the study.

Participants completed a brief paper-and-pencil questionnaire 10 times per day during 7 consecutive days. Participants wore a preprogrammed wristwatch that delivered the auditory signals (beeps) that served as prompts for the completion of the questionnaire. They were instructed to complete the questionnaire immediately after they received a beep, and their full comprehension of the instructions was checked. The beeps were delivered at quasi-random moments between 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. The intervals were chosen such that the exact beep times were unpredictable, even though they still approximated a fixed time series. Beeps were randomly distributed around fixed time points separated by 90 min each, with a maximum deviation of 20 min ( de Vries, 1992 ). At the end of each questionnaire, participants reported the exact time at that moment. The time recorded by participants after they completed the questionnaire was compared to the actual time of the beep. Reports that were provided later than 15 min after the beep signal have been found less reliable and were therefore not used in analyses. At least one third of the possible reports are required to produce a valid data set ( Delespaul, 1995 ). Participants with fewer than 24 valid reports of our main ESM variables (intimacy and sexual behavior) of the maximum of 70 possible reports were considered to be noncompliant and were excluded from the analyses. Additionally participants were instructed to fill in early morning and late evening diaries. These reports were not completed upon delivery of a signal, but contingent on, respectively, the moment of waking up and immediately before going to sleep. The latter collected data about the period since the last beep signal of the evening.

Potential participants received personal invitations including information about the requirements and methods of the study. When they agreed to participate, after reading and signing an informed consent form and completing an online questionnaire, an interview was scheduled, either face-to-face or by telephone, on the day immediately before the start of their participation. Participants received extensive explanation of the study procedure and were stimulated to pose any remaining questions. During this briefing session, participants also practiced completing the ESM questionnaire. Eligible participants received the wristwatch and seven diary booklets for the ESM assessments. After completing the last questionnaire, they were debriefed and asked for an evaluation of their participation. Anonymity was secured by marking each respondent’s data only with a research code and having them send their data by postal mail using prestamped envelopes to a fellow researcher, with whom the respondent was not acquainted, to code the diary data and enter these into the database. Participants were volunteers and did not receive any monetary compensation. Ethical approval of the institutional review board of the Open University was obtained.

Intimacy was measured at the beep level with 5 items using 7-point Likert-type scales (1 = not at all , 7 = very strongly ). Item wordings were based on Sternberg’s description of state intimacy: “Towards my partner I now feel…‘Intimacy,’ ‘Connectedness,’ ‘Love,’ ‘Tenderness,’ and ‘Warmth.’” Intimacy was defined as the mean score of the 5 items denoting feelings of intimacy, connectedness, love, tenderness, and warmth toward the partner. The items were answered using 7-point rating scales with category labels: 1 = not , 4 = moderately , and 7 = very . The reliability, McDonald’s (1999) ω, of the intimacy factor at the person (i.e., aggregated over all assessments within a person) and at the beep level was determined with a multilevel confirmatory factor analysis using Mplus (Version 7.3, see Appendix 1 for statistical details). The intraclass correlations for the 5 items were high, ranging between .59 and .65. A one-factor model fitted the data well: comparative fit index (CFI) = .92, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = .05, standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = .038 (within) and .045 (between). At the person level, the estimated reliability was .91. At the beep level, the estimated reliability was .90.

Sexual desire

Sexual desire was measured at the beep level as the mean score of 3 items, using 7-point Likert-type scales (1 = not at all , 7 = very strongly ). Item wordings were as follows: At this moment…“I feel sexual desire,” “I feel sexually excited,” and “I am open to sexual initiative.” The selected wordings reflect the current consensus in the field of sex research with regard to sexual desire as comprised of both proactive and receptive elements and of sexual arousal, particularly in women ( Basson, 2002 ). The 3 items intercorrelated highly (.76, .81, and .85). The reliability, McDonald’s (1999) ω, of the sexual desire factor at the person and at the beep level was determined with a multilevel confirmatory factor analysis using Mplus (Version 7.3). The intraclass correlations of the 3 items ranged between .41 and .43. A one-factor model fitted the data very well: CFI = .99, RMSEA = .02, SRMR = .00 (within) and .013 (between). At the person level, the estimated reliability was .86. At the beep level, the estimated reliability was .72.

Sexual activity

Sexual activity was measured at every beep and, additionally, immediately before going to sleep and upon awakening in the morning. Item wording was as follows: “Since the previous beep, I was sexually active….” Response options were as follows: “No,” “Yes, with partner,” or “Yes, I masturbated.” Data on masturbation are not further reported here.

The presence of the partner (allowing partnered sexual activity to occur), day of the week, and interbeep interval length were assessed using the pertinent items in the ESM diary. Relationship duration was assessed.

Data analysis

Circadian patterns of intimacy, sexual desire, and sexual activity were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and curves were fitted for visual inspection.

Hypotheses A and B were tested at the beep level, which represents the lowest and most information-rich level. Hypothesis A, predicting sexual desire at a particular assessment ( t ) by intimacy at the previous assessment ( t −1), was tested in a multilevel analysis in R ( R Core Team, 2016 ) using the package nlme ( Pinheiro, Bates, DebRoy, Sarkar, & R Core Team, 2016 ). We added the interaction term between gender and intimacy to test whether gender moderated the effect of intimacy on sexual desire. The same model was also tested for different time lags of intimacy and thus for intimacy measured at t −2 and at t −3. Next, we tested the hypothesis of Baumeister and Bratslavsky (1999) that the increase in intimacy within a period of time (e.g., between beep t −1 and t ) leads to higher levels of sexual desire at t . In all of the above analyses, relationship duration and the presence of the partner were included as covariates in the model. We assumed random intercepts across participants in all models and included an autocorrelation parameter at the assessment level.

Note that building a statistical model with sexual activity as dependent variable at the beep level is not possible because partnered sexual activity was only reported in an extremely small proportion of the cases.

To test Hypotheses C and D, the data were first aggregated across the assessments resulting in a data set using day level as the lowest level. The variable sexual activity was then recoded to indicate whether there had been partnered sexual activity that day (1) or not (0). In this aggregated data set, intimacy and sexual desire indicate the average level of intimacy and sexual desire at the day level, respectively. The hypotheses were tested in a comprehensive mediation analysis at the day level ( Bauer, Preacher, & Gil, 2006 ; Hayes, 2013 ; Kenny, Korchmaros, & Bolger, 2003 ; Preacher, Zyphur, & Zhang, 2010 ), using Mplus ( Muthén & Muthén, 1998–2012 ).

Finally, we analyzed the same mediation model at the participant level by aggregating the data across days. In this aggregated data set at the participant level, intimacy and sexual desire indicate the average level of, respectively, intimacy and sexual desire of a respondent during the study. The variable sexual activity here indicates the total number of partnered sexual activities during the study. The hurdle model ( Atkins, Baldwin, Zheng, Gallop, & Neighbors, 2013 ; Zeileis, Kleiber, & Jackman, 2008 ) was used to analyze the association at this level between partnered sexual activity and the predictors’ sexual desire and intimacy. Hurdle models are classes of models for count data that help handle excess zeros and overdispersion. In the case of sexual activity, the data contained many zeros, even after aggregating over assessments and days. The model consists of two parts: a binary logit model estimating whether sexual activity was reported (1) or not (0) and a truncated negative binomial (count) model that predicts the number of sexual activities. The details of the statistical models are described in the Appendix 2 .

Descriptive statistics

Full compliance would have resulted in 70 (7 days × 10 assessments per day) valid data records per participant. All participants completed more than the minimum number of 24 questionnaires. Three participants fully completed all questionnaires, one completed 26 questionnaires, and all others were somewhere between these values. The median value was 56 questionnaires (80%) completed within the 15-min time window after receiving the beep. No missing pattern was found for time of assessment. The number of missing observations increased somewhat as the study progressed over the consecutive days. The theoretical maximum number of records for a day is 1,340 (134 × 10), and in this study, the number ranged from 950 (last day) to 1,102 (first day). A slight dip is seen on the third day, which is a characteristic phenomenon for ESM data that has already been described ( Delespaul, 1995 ). Descriptive data and correlations among the variables of interest are shown in Table 1 .

Intimacy and sexual desire in individuals in romantic relationships: Descriptive statistics and correlations at the beep, day, and subject level.

	Descriptive statistics				Correlations
		Mean	95% CI		Sexual desire	Intimacy
Beep level
Sexual desire	7,152	1.89	[1.86, 1.92]	1.37
Intimacy	7,180	4.76	[4.73, 4.80]	1.56	.26 [.24, .28]
Relationship duration					−.19 [−.21, −.16]	−.01 [−.04, .01]
Day level
Sexual desire	938	1.93	[1.85, 2.00]	1.10
Intimacy	938	4.80	[4.71, 4.89]	1.37	.26 [.20, .32]
Relationship duration					−.25 [−.31, −.19]	−.02 [−.09, .04]
Subject level
Sexual desire	134	1.89	[1.74, 2.04]	0.85
Intimacy	134	4.79	[4.57, 5.01]	1.28	.26 [.09, .41]
Relationship duration	134	14.6	[12.8, 16.5]	10.83	−.31 [−.46, −.14]	−.02 [−.19, .16]

Most participants reported experiencing feelings of intimacy toward their partner with a median score of 5.0 (Scales 1–7). The 25% and 75% percentile scores were, respectively, 3.9 and 5.7, indicating that 25% of the participants rated their relation as highly intimate on average (≥5.7). When intimacy is plotted as a function of the time of assessments across the day, averaged over participants and days, despite the narrow range of the intimacy scores, a clear pattern arises, which can almost perfectly be described by a quadratic function, see Figure 1 .

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Intimacy as a function of the time of assessments across the day, averaged over participants and days. The empty triangles and solid line depict female scores. The inverted black triangles and dashed line depict male scores.

After the start of the day, the daily intimacy curve gradually decreased, but from the seventh assessment onward (about 5–6 p.m.), the intimacy scores rose sharply; late in the evening, intimacy was at its maximum. Men’s ( M = 4.80, SD = 1.5) and women’s reports of intimacy ( M = 4.72, SD = 1.6) did not differ meaningfully, F (1, 7,178) = 8.51; p = .004, η 2 = .00, 95% confidence interval (CI) = [.00, .00]. The presence of the partner in 21.6% of the observations was an important factor, F (1, 7,178) = 8.51; p < .001, η 2 = .07, 95% CI [.06, .08], for the level of reported intimacy. The distribution of sexual desire in the full sample, averaged over assessments and days, reveals an average score of 1.9, SD = .93 (Scales 1–7). Four participants had an average score above 4. Average level of sexual desire was slightly higher on nonwork days ( M = 2.0, SD = 1.5) compared to work days ( M = 1.7, SD = 1.2), F (1, 5,855) = 99.4, p < .001, η 2 = .02, 95% CI [.01, .02]. Desire was also higher in men ( M = 2.3, SD = 1.5) compared to women ( M = 1.7, SD = 1.2), F (1, 7,150) = 342.2, p < .001, η 2 = .05, 95% CI [.04, .05]. The difference between men and women was significantly smaller on work days compared to nonwork days, F (1, 5,853) = 16.2, p < .001, η 2 = .02.

The distribution of sexual desire scores over assessments per day strongly resembled that of intimacy, see Figure 2 . There was a subtle difference though, whereas intimacy started increasing at Assessment 7, it appeared that sexual desire only started rising at Assessment 8 (between 6.30 and 7.30 p.m.). The patterns were not significantly different between the genders, F (9, 7,132) = .73, p = .68, η 2 = .02.

An external file that holds a picture, illustration, etc.
Object name is 10.1177_0265407517743076-fig2.jpg

Sexual desire as a function of the time of assessments, averaged over participants and days. The empty triangles and solid line depict female scores. The inverted black triangles and dashed line depict male scores. The stars and dotted line depict the sexual desire scores averaged across genders.

A quadratic term significantly predicted both the intimacy scores ( B = .012, SE = .001, p < .001) and the sexual desire scores ( B = .014, SE = .001, p < .001). We used a technique reported by Nelson and Simonsohn (2014) in order to test the point at which desire and intimacy increased. The beeps were centered at the value 4, which seemed the minimum value after visual inspection of the figure, in order to test the point at which desire and intimacy increased. Two separate linear regressions were conducted: one for the association between beeps and desire and intimacy, respectively, for the first four beeps and one for the second part (Beeps 5–10). We found that before Beep 5, early in the day, there was a nonsignificant negative effect ( B = −.023, SE = .011, p = .164) for intimacy and a significant negative effect ( B = −.039, SE = .007, p = .034) for sexual desire. From Beep 5 onward, both desire and intimacy significantly increased ( B = .101, SE = .007, p < .001 for intimacy and B = .096, SE = .017, p = .005 for sexual desire). This confirms the effect suggested by the figures that after Beep 4, the levels of sexual desire and intimacy are rising.

In 4.3% of the assessments, participants reported that sexual activity had taken place (1.8% in the form of masturbation and 2.5% as partnered sexual activity). No partnered sexual activity was reported by 32.1% of the participants; 19.4% reported one, 18.7% reported two, and 13.4% reported three partnered sexual activities, while still smaller percentages of participants reported higher numbers of partnered sexual activities during participation in the study.

Both men and women most often reported sexual activity at the last assessment (late evening) and at the first assessment (night and early morning). The effect of assessment day (1 through 7) on sexual activity was not significant, F (1, 1,097) = .84, p = .539.

Testing the hypothesized temporal associations between intimacy and sexual desire at the beep level

To investigate the temporal relation between intimacy and sexual desire, we tested several multilevel models. In the first model, intimacy at t −1 was taken as predictor for sexual desire at t and gender as a moderator of this relationship. Results of this analysis are shown in Table 2 . First the fixed effects are shown and next the random effects. A one-point increase in intimacy at time point t −1 was associated with higher sexual desire at time point t with about .09 (all measured in standard deviations). The overall level (intercept) of sexual desire differed between men and women. For men, the level of sexual desire was .71, which was higher than for women. The presence of the partner had a positive effect on sexual desire, whereas relationship duration had a negative effect. 1

Prediction of sexual desire by intimacy at a previous assessment point: Fixed and random effects.

Estimates of fixed effects
	Estimate				Significance	95% confidence interval
Parameter	Estimate				Significance	Lower bound	Upper bound
Intercept	−.693	.093	−7.42		.000	−.876	−0.510
Intimacy ( − 1)	.090	.014	6.37		.000	.063	0.118
Gender (male)	.705	.155	4.55		.000	.399	1.011
Presence partner (yes)	.291	.023	12.63		.000	.246	0.337
Relationship duration	−.243	.053	−4.59		.000	−.347	−0.138
Gender × Intimacy	−.043	.023	−1.89		.059	−.087	0.002
Estimates of random effects
	Estimate	95% confidence interval
Parameter	Estimate	Lower bound		Upper bound
Autocorrelation	.355	.328		.382
Intercept	.570	.499		.652
Residual	.702	.686		.718

Note. Dependent variable: Standardized sexual desire. Relationship duration is standardized ( N = 5,277).

The analyses of the models with intimacy at t −2 and t −3 as predictors showed that with increasing time lags, the effect of intimacy decreased. 2 The effects of the other variables in the model remained essentially the same. Figure 3 shows the difference in the intimacy effect on sexual desire as a function of the time lags, starting with time lag 0 (cross-sectional analysis).

An external file that holds a picture, illustration, etc.
Object name is 10.1177_0265407517743076-fig3.jpg

Effects of intimacy on sexual desire as a function of the time lags between intimacy and sexual desire: standardized regression coefficients with their 95% confidence interval.

Next, we tested the model proposed by Baumeister and Bratslavsky (1999) . Compared with the previous model, the t −1 score for intimacy as predictor was replaced with the change score for intimacy between t −1 and t . Results are shown in Table 3 . These results are very similar to the ones from the previous analyses. A one-point increase in intimacy between time point t −1 and time point t was associated with an increase in sexual desire at time point t with about .08 (measured in standard deviations). Gender did not moderate the effect of change in intimacy on sexual desire and thus failed to support Baumeister and Bratslavsky’s prediction.

Prediction of sexual desire by change in intimacy from a previous assessment point: fixed and random effects (Baumeister and Bratslavsky model).

Estimates of fixed effects
Parameter	Estimate				Significance	95% confidence interval
Parameter	Estimate				Significance	Lower bound	Upper bound
Intercept	−.263	.067	−3.92		.000	−.395	−.131
Intimacy (change score)	.082	.012	6.76		.000	.058	.105
Gender (male)	.505	.114	4.43		.000	.279	.731
Presence partner (yes)	.274	.023	11.90		.000	.229	.319
Relationship duration	−.246	.054	−4.53		.000	−.353	−.139
Gender × Intimacy	.023	.019	1.19		.235	−.015	.060
Estimates of random effects
Parameter	Estimate	95% confidence interval
Parameter	Estimate	Lower bound		Upper bound
Autocorrelation	.373	.346		.400
Intercept	.586	.513		.669
Residual	.704	.688		.721

Testing the hypothesized mediation effect of sexual desire on the association between intimacy and sexual activity at day level

To test the mediating role of sexual desire in the relation between intimacy and sexual activity at the day level, we defined a multilevel mediation model in Mplus (Version 7.3), using the procedure described by Preacher, Zyphur, and Zhang (2010) . Results of this analysis are shown in Table 4 . Daily intimacy significantly predicted sexual desire ( B = .239, SE = .065, p < .01), and sexual desire significantly predicted sexual activity ( B = .610, SE = .155, p < .01). The direct path between intimacy and sexual activity was weak and not significant ( B = .182, SE = .146, p = .213), but the indirect effect through sexual desire was significant ( B = .224, SE = .106, p = .034).

The association between sexual activity and intimacy, mediated by sexual desire.

Effect	Estimate		Estimate/	Significance
Intimacy–sexual desire	.239	.065	3.700	.000
Sexual desire–sexual activity	.610	.155	3.941	.000
Intimacy–sexual activity
Direct	.182	.146	1.245	.213
Indirect	.224	.106	2.120	.034

Note. Dependent variable: Sexual activity (yes vs. no) at day level ( N = 938).

Testing the hypothesized cross-sectional associations between intimacy, sexual desire, and partnered sexual activity

To examine the association between sexual desire, intimacy, and partnered sexual activity, with sexual activity assumed to be depending on the other two, we used the hurdle model. The results are shown in Table 5 . Sexual desire was the only significant predictor for sexual activity in both models, predicting both the number of sexual activities ( B = .39, SE = .09, p < .001) and the log odds of sexual activity versus no sexual activity ( B = .51, SE = .26, p = .047). The interaction between intimacy and gender in both models was weak and not significant.

The association between sexual activity, intimacy, and sexual desire at subject level using the hurdle model.

Model				Lower bound CI	Upper bound CI	Significance
Count model coefficients (negative binomial with logit link)
Intercept	.766	.122	6.30	.000	.528	1.010
Sexual desire	.393	.095	4.14	.000	.223	0.648
Intimacy	.032	.118	0.27	.787	−.187	0.281
Gender (male)	−.051	.202	−0.25	.800	−.448	0.352
Relationship duration	−.084	.110	−0.77	.444	−.293	0.136
Gender × Intimacy	−.334	.199	−1.68	.092	−.754	0.033
Zero hurdle model coefficients (binomial with logit link)
Intercept	1.072	.268	3.99	.000	0.547	1.603
Sexual desire	0.516	.260	1.99	.047	0.010	1.047
Intimacy	0.277	.229	1.21	.226	−0.168	0.727
Gender (male)	−0.735	.452	−1.63	.104	−1.608	0.164
Relationship duration	0.116	.212	0.55	.586	−0.301	0.516
Gender × Intimacy	−0.086	.416	−0.21	.837	−0.906	0.725

Note. Dependent variable: Partnered sexual activity at subject level. Intimacy, sexual desire, and relationship duration are standardized ( N = 134). CI = confidence interval.

In this study, the link between intimacy, sexual desire, and partnered sexual activity was investigated in a sample of heterosexual women and men in romantic relationships. On a descriptive level, a U-shaped daily “intimacy curve” was found with higher levels of intimacy during late afternoon, evening, and early morning. Sexual desire followed a similar circadian pattern across the day. Both curves were highly similar for men and women. The direct association of perceived intimacy with the partner and sexual interaction with the partner proved not significant but appeared to be explained by the effect of intimacy on sexual desire. Although the adequacy of performing mediation analysis in the absence of a direct effect between independent and dependent variables could be questioned and might point to the existence of common confounding sources of sexual desire and intimacy that were not accounted for in the model, mediation can occur even without a significant total effect (see Hayes, 2013 , for a discussion and examples).

These findings provide partial support for models of sexual functioning incorporating social–emotional factors including intimacy and relational satisfaction ( Basson, 2000 ; Birnbaum et al., 2007 ; Bodenmann et al., 2006 ; Ein-Dor & Hirschberger, 2012 ; Hinchliff & Gott, 2004 ; Klusmann, 2002 ; Stephenson & Meston, 2010 ). Although we found higher levels of intimacy and sexual desire in men than in women, the gender differences regarding the intimacy–sex link that feature prominently in some of the theoretical models of partnered sexuality ( Basson, 2000 ; Klusmann, 2002 ; Schnarch, 1997 ) were not found in the present data. Thus, intimacy appears to act as a precursor of sexual desire that, in turn, increases the odds for partnered sexual activity to occur for both women and men.

The results of our study failed to support Baumeister and Bratlavsky’s (1999) prediction that men would show a stronger link between daily rises in intimacy and daily sexual desire than would women. The absence of a gender effect on the intimacy–sexual desire link in our study is in line with findings from previous daily diary research among nonclinical couples ( Dewitte et al., 2015 ; Rubin & Campbell, 2012 ). Future research into this effect in clinical populations is needed to ascertain whether the gender-specific approach that is advocated in some couples-based therapeutic programs for low sexual desire (e.g., Schnarch, 1997 ) remains useful.

A limitation of the present study is the possibility that participants completed questions after more than 15 min following the beep, even when they reported to have completed their diary within the required time limit, which would reduce the reliability of the data. Although some ESM researchers have questioned participant compliance in paper-and-pencil ESM studies and prefer the use of electronic devices ( Bolger et al., 2003 ; Stone, Shiffman, Schwartz, Broderick, & Hufford, 2002 ), later empirical studies have demonstrated satisfactory compliance rates (questionnaire completion after at least 80% of the beeps) with both paper-and-pencil protocols and protocols involving data collection using electronic devices. Both data acquisition methods produced data with comparable psychometric characteristics and research findings ( Green, Rafaeli, Bolger, Shrout, & Reis, 2006 ; Jacobs et al., 2005 ). The present study protocol was comparable with the protocols in the latter studies. Another limitation concerns the unknown magnitude of measurement reactivity of the ESM. The evidence for the existence of substantial measurement reactivity or fatigue during assessment of subjective experience in ecological momentary assessment using high-frequent diary entries is mixed. Although pattern changes of diary entries across multiple days have been found (e.g., Reynolds, Robles, & Repetti, 2016 ), suggesting both measurement reactivity and fatigue-related declines in response accuracy, the observed effects were small. In a study among university students, Gillmore and colleagues (2001) collected daily diary responses to sex-related and other health-related questions over a period of 2 months. A significant trend was found toward decreased reporting of drinking, smoking, and sexual intercourse. In the present study, no effects across the measurement week were found with regard to reporting sexual activity, and neither were any changes over time found in the association between perceived intimacy and sexual desire. Another limitation concerns the impact of less than perfect compliance of participants to complete the questionnaires after they received a beep signal. This might have consequences for the observed frequency of noncontinuous data, including the occurrence of sexual activity. First, the percentage of missing assessments is well below the limit of 70% recommended by Delespaul (1995) . If the data of the missed assessments would have the same distribution as the completed assessments, this could have major consequences for the frequency of occurrence of partnered sexual activities, which might almost be double compared to the observed count. However, although it is impossible to empirically compare missing and nonmissing data, we think it is plausible to speculate that at least a substantial part of the missing assessments was due to participants being occupied at that moment with work duties or other activities that would also prevent them from being sexually active. The coherent circadian patterns that were found for the key variables in this study may indicate that we were able to accurately capture relevant dynamics of intimacy, sexual desire, and partnered sexual activity in daily life.

Other, sample-related, limitations of the present study concern the unknown impact of self-selection bias and the almost exclusively Caucasian sample. Our sample also included only one member of a romantic relationship. However, the behavior and communicated experiences of the partner probably have important additional explanatory power for the individual’s experiences of intimacy and sexual desire. Another reason why dyadic analyses are an important next step in future research is that partners’ work schedules often do not align. The effects of such nonsynchronous work schedules on intimacy, sexual desire, and partnered sexual activity can better be investigated when both partners’ data are included. We therefore recommend that the current investigation of individual men and women living in romantic relationships is followed up in future studies in which data are collected from both members of romantic couples.

Supplemental Material

Acknowledgments.

We thank J. Hiemstra, A. Jansen-Breukelman, C. Iftekarahlikan, E. Baas, Y. Commandeur-Schouten, C. Hoogerheide, and R. Eggens for their participation in the data collection.

The reliability of the intimacy factor at a particular level can be estimated with the equation:

where (∑λ i ) 2 denotes the squared sum of the five loadings for the intimacy factor and (∑∊ i ) denotes the sum of the error variances of the 5 items ( Werts, Linn, & Jöreskog, 1974 ).

We formulated the following statistical model to test the hypothesis from Baumeister and Bratslavsky (1999) that the increase in intimacy within a period of time leads to higher levels of sexual desire, following standard multilevel notation for the parameters:

Here, index j ( j = 1–134) denotes the participants, index k ( k = 1–7) denotes the days, and t denotes the time points (assessment; t = 1–10). The slope ( b 1 j ) captures Baumeister and Bratslavsky’s (1999) gender effect. The intercept ( b 0 j ) captures all determinants of sexual desire that cannot be explained by the increase in intimacy. The effect of intimacy at t − 1 upon sexual desire is assumed to vary across participants, in particular as a function of gender ( G ). Likewise, the intercept is assumed to vary across participants, also as a function of gender. The subject-level variable gender is thus added as a subject-level predictor of both the intercept and the slope of perceived intimacy, thus

The parameter γ 11 now denotes the interaction effect of gender and change in intimacy. Furthermore, we model the residuals at the beep level to be autocorrelated with lag 1 (AR1).

1. When testing our hypotheses, the same pattern of results was found in analyses in which the presence of the partner and relationship duration were and were not included as covariates.

2. The statistics of the regression analyses using data at t − 2 and t − 3 are provided as Supplementary Material to this publication.

Funding: The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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Object name is 10.1177_0265407517743076-img1.jpg

Supplemental material: Supplementary material for this article is available online

Human Sexuality: Personal Reflection Research Paper

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As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
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Introduction

Personal reflection, critical thinking and value systems in sexual decisions, effect of environment and historical perspective on my sexuality, gender identity, attraction and love, reference list.

Even though it might not be explicitly expressed, sexuality is very important to every person. Whether a person is old or young, man or woman or from any background, sexuality affects every aspects of their lives. The field of sexuality has always attracted many scholars who try to explain issues that surround human sexuality; however, this topic is not openly discussed leading many people to be ignorant of sexuality issues. It is commonly agreed that sexual drive is one on of the major drives that influence our decisions. In fact, sexual drives come next to basic drives such as eating and sleep. Due to this, knowledge on human sexuality is very important. It allows one to understand experiences and objective decisions on sexual life. To me, the course on human sexuality was eye-opening; allowing me to understand some of the things that I assumed to be obvious.

Before this course, issues on sexuality did seem important. I took the issues as only worth of being experienced but not to be discussed. I took sexual identity and feeling as given but not based on rational decision s. My sexual decisions were not well evaluated; I relied on impulsive emotions to make such decisions. I did not have a plane of reference to gauge my sexual decisions. Today, as I reflect on my earlier experience I see the course as liberating for giving me knowledge to base my sexual decisions on. Gender and sexuality seemed synonymous and seemed to have just been acquired and which a person had no influence. Today I can reflect on influence of these forces to my identity and all other aspects of my life. Love and attraction were just clichés whose meaning seemed to be obvious. Issues relationship and romance seemed to be obvious and negative experiences from relationships seemed to be just an element of bad lack (Nevid, J.S. et al., 2005, 67). Today, due to the principle acquired in the course, I have understanding of these issues and also on their influence on my relationship. Today I understand how love intimacy start, develop and how they can be maintained. Today the forces of sexuality do not just influence me without knowledge but I understand every element of sexual experience and mould them to the right direction.

I have always appreciated the use of value system making ethical decisions. However, I could not have imagined how critical thinking could be applied in making sexual decisions. I considered decisions made on sexuality to be based on emotions and feelings that could not be based to reason. I also saw value systems and sexuality to be incompatible and in competition. The course has brought light to this issue. I have come to realize that value systems and critical thinking are compatible with sexual decisions and in fact, should always be used in such decisions. Indeed, sex is a need; however expressing one’s sexuality is based on personal choice (Diamond, J., 1997, p87). The decisions are not just based by the biological nature of human but rational decisions should be used. Before, I did not apply a lot of thoughts to my decisions but left them to instinct of conscience. I did not closely relate ethics with sexuality only basing May decisions on my conscience.

My value system is very important in my decisions on sexuality. They give me a base in which to arrive at my decisions and to evaluate sexual drives. I strongly believe in ethical action. It evaluates the ethical consequence of any actions and believes that any actions should be based on rational decisions. In sexuality, ethics are also important. Critical thinking acquired in the course has allowed me to evaluate the ethical consequences of my sexual drive (Craig, A. H., 2008, p99).

Every individual has value systems that influence their decisions. From the course, I have been able to appreciate value systems of other people. Knowledge of their value system helps me to understand the rationale through which they make sexual decisions. This however does not make me to be swayed but have helped me to respect my value systems. Also this knowledge has allowed me to be tolerant of other people’s sexual decisions. Although I may strongly believe in sex as reserved for marriage, I have no problem with other people who hold contrary opinions. I am now able to respect their decisions but at the same time respect my decision ns even more. In making sexual decisions, I now have very strong tools: value systems and critical thinking.

Romantic novels, magazines and movies were the main base of my knowledge on sexuality. Critical thinking has given me a tool to critically analyze the ideas presented before taking applying them. Critical thinking has given me the skills to ask questions that would lead to a better conclusion.

Environment and history has great influence on the perspective that we have on sexuality. Each person live in a certain environment interacting with other people in the environment, thus one have to be influenced by the perspectives held by other people. The value systems, culture and other aspects of life are acquired from the environment. Historical perspective e in very important in analyzing the perspective on sexuality held today (Nevid, J.S. et al., 2005, p78). To me, evaluating historical perspective helps to analyze whether the perspective on sexuality that I hold today is really mine or acquired other perspectives. Review of historical perspective help to appreciate the influence of culture and religion to attitude on sexuality and sexual behavior (Sharon, M. V. & Simon, L., 2006, p123). As the course progressed, influence of various cultures to my sexuality was evaluated. This enabled me to identify the cultures that have influenced my perspective on sexuality in a bigger way.

As I evaluate the influence of historical perspective and environment on my sexuality, I have realized that Christianity has great influence on me. My Christian parent made it clear that sex is sacred and reserved for marriage. My parents discouraged premarital sex mostly due to their Christian background. The perspective on sexuality has passed down though sermon, scripture and other Christian teachings. For example Paul advised those who could to life as celibate, Augustine also taught that indulgence in carnal pleasure was a great hindrance to spirituality (Nevid, J.S. et al., 2005, p56). Other sexual practice such as anal, oral and masturbation is viewed as sinful. Today I can appreciate the influence of environment and historical perspective but I am able to make my own stand on my sexuality.

Discussion on historical perspective and environment has made me to appreciate my sexual identity. Gender identity is very important and it entails the recognition f a person as either a male or a female. As I reflect on my life, I realize that I developed my gender identity depending on how I was treated (Craig, A. H., 2008, p33). The type of cloth worn to me by my parents had great influence to my gender. The type of games that I was encouraged to participate and the toys bought to me said very much on my gender. The kind of chore given to me during my earlier life suggested strongly on my gender. Remark made by my parent on me suggested the kind of life that I was supposed to live and also to my gender. As I now realize, the gender identity from my parent and environment is through the learning theory (Abramson, P. R., & Pinkerton, S. D., 1995, p113). This theory suggest that children acquire their gender identity by observing their parent, siblings, duties assigned, and perspective created in the media to gain their gender identity.

For a long time now, I have been in relationships. If I compare the relationships to a game, then love and attraction were the moist important element in the game. I have fallen in love in various time; engaging in intimacy and various decisions on relationship. From the course, I can now appreciate the opposite attraction as postulated by science. Indeed I am attracted to individuals of opposite sex who share so me qualities with me and that we have common interest.

Sexuality is a very important element in human lives. Sexuality dictates our relationships, career and other decision in our lives. It is mostly assumed that our sexuality has nothing to do with science but the course suggested otherwise. The skill of critical thinking acquired in the course in very important in making decision on sexuality. Knowledge on attraction and love, influence of environment and historical perspectives on our sexuality is important in appreciating our sexuality and making decisions on the same.

Abramson, P. R., & Pinkerton, S. D. (1995). With Pleasure: Thoughts on the Nature of Human Sexuality. New York: Oxford University Press.

Craig, A. H. (2008). Human sexuality: personality and social psychological perspectives . Philadelphia: Sage Publication.

Diamond, J. (1997). Why is Sex Fun? The Evolution of Human Sexuality. New York: BasicBooks.

Nevid, J.S. et al. (2005). Human Sexuality in a world of diversity. New York: Pearson Education, Inc.

Sharon, M. V. & Simon, L. (2006). Human sexuality . New York: Sinauer Associates.

Do Women Talk Too Much? Differences in Patterns
Emarati Women and Education in United Arabs Emirates
“History of Sexuality” by Michael Foucault
Sexuality and Gender Issues: One and the Same?
To What Extent Is Sexuality Socially Constructed?
Relevance of Gender to Global Justice: Gender, Sexuality, Nationality and Cultural Variations in Concepts of Justice
Gender Identity: Definitions, Factors, Comparison
Homosexuality - Nature or Nurture?
“Desperate Housewives”: The Television Comedy Drama’s Connection and the Gender Theories
“Women Status and the Health of Women and Men”: Article Critique
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Published: 31 August 2024

Knowledge mapping and evolution of research on older adults’ technology acceptance: a bibliometric study from 2013 to 2023

Xianru Shang ORCID: orcid.org/0009-0000-8906-3216 1 ,
Zijian Liu 1 ,
Chen Gong 1 ,
Zhigang Hu 1 ,
Yuexuan Wu 1 &
Chengliang Wang ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-2208-3508 2

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications volume 11 , Article number: 1115 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

Science, technology and society

The rapid expansion of information technology and the intensification of population aging are two prominent features of contemporary societal development. Investigating older adults’ acceptance and use of technology is key to facilitating their integration into an information-driven society. Given this context, the technology acceptance of older adults has emerged as a prioritized research topic, attracting widespread attention in the academic community. However, existing research remains fragmented and lacks a systematic framework. To address this gap, we employed bibliometric methods, utilizing the Web of Science Core Collection to conduct a comprehensive review of literature on older adults’ technology acceptance from 2013 to 2023. Utilizing VOSviewer and CiteSpace for data assessment and visualization, we created knowledge mappings of research on older adults’ technology acceptance. Our study employed multidimensional methods such as co-occurrence analysis, clustering, and burst analysis to: (1) reveal research dynamics, key journals, and domains in this field; (2) identify leading countries, their collaborative networks, and core research institutions and authors; (3) recognize the foundational knowledge system centered on theoretical model deepening, emerging technology applications, and research methods and evaluation, uncovering seminal literature and observing a shift from early theoretical and influential factor analyses to empirical studies focusing on individual factors and emerging technologies; (4) moreover, current research hotspots are primarily in the areas of factors influencing technology adoption, human-robot interaction experiences, mobile health management, and aging-in-place technology, highlighting the evolutionary context and quality distribution of research themes. Finally, we recommend that future research should deeply explore improvements in theoretical models, long-term usage, and user experience evaluation. Overall, this study presents a clear framework of existing research in the field of older adults’ technology acceptance, providing an important reference for future theoretical exploration and innovative applications.

Research progress and intellectual structure of design for digital equity (DDE): A bibliometric analysis based on citespace

Exploring the role of interaction in older-adult service innovation: insights from the testing stage

Smart device interest, perceived usefulness, and preferences in rural Alabama seniors

Introduction.

In contemporary society, the rapid development of information technology has been intricately intertwined with the intensifying trend of population aging. According to the latest United Nations forecast, by 2050, the global population aged 65 and above is expected to reach 1.6 billion, representing about 16% of the total global population (UN 2023 ). Given the significant challenges of global aging, there is increasing evidence that emerging technologies have significant potential to maintain health and independence for older adults in their home and healthcare environments (Barnard et al. 2013 ; Soar 2010 ; Vancea and Solé-Casals 2016 ). This includes, but is not limited to, enhancing residential safety with smart home technologies (Touqeer et al. 2021 ; Wang et al. 2022 ), improving living independence through wearable technologies (Perez et al. 2023 ), and increasing medical accessibility via telehealth services (Kruse et al. 2020 ). Technological innovations are redefining the lifestyles of older adults, encouraging a shift from passive to active participation (González et al. 2012 ; Mostaghel 2016 ). Nevertheless, the effective application and dissemination of technology still depends on user acceptance and usage intentions (Naseri et al. 2023 ; Wang et al. 2023a ; Xia et al. 2024 ; Yu et al. 2023 ). Particularly, older adults face numerous challenges in accepting and using new technologies. These challenges include not only physical and cognitive limitations but also a lack of technological experience, along with the influences of social and economic factors (Valk et al. 2018 ; Wilson et al. 2021 ).

User acceptance of technology is a significant focus within information systems (IS) research (Dai et al. 2024 ), with several models developed to explain and predict user behavior towards technology usage, including the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) (Davis 1989 ), TAM2, TAM3, and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) (Venkatesh et al. 2003 ). Older adults, as a group with unique needs, exhibit different behavioral patterns during technology acceptance than other user groups, and these uniquenesses include changes in cognitive abilities, as well as motivations, attitudes, and perceptions of the use of new technologies (Chen and Chan 2011 ). The continual expansion of technology introduces considerable challenges for older adults, rendering the understanding of their technology acceptance a research priority. Thus, conducting in-depth research into older adults’ acceptance of technology is critically important for enhancing their integration into the information society and improving their quality of life through technological advancements.

Reviewing relevant literature to identify research gaps helps further solidify the theoretical foundation of the research topic. However, many existing literature reviews primarily focus on the factors influencing older adults’ acceptance or intentions to use technology. For instance, Ma et al. ( 2021 ) conducted a comprehensive analysis of the determinants of older adults’ behavioral intentions to use technology; Liu et al. ( 2022 ) categorized key variables in studies of older adults’ technology acceptance, noting a shift in focus towards social and emotional factors; Yap et al. ( 2022 ) identified seven categories of antecedents affecting older adults’ use of technology from an analysis of 26 articles, including technological, psychological, social, personal, cost, behavioral, and environmental factors; Schroeder et al. ( 2023 ) extracted 119 influencing factors from 59 articles and further categorized these into six themes covering demographics, health status, and emotional awareness. Additionally, some studies focus on the application of specific technologies, such as Ferguson et al. ( 2021 ), who explored barriers and facilitators to older adults using wearable devices for heart monitoring, and He et al. ( 2022 ) and Baer et al. ( 2022 ), who each conducted in-depth investigations into the acceptance of social assistive robots and mobile nutrition and fitness apps, respectively. In summary, current literature reviews on older adults’ technology acceptance exhibit certain limitations. Due to the interdisciplinary nature and complex knowledge structure of this field, traditional literature reviews often rely on qualitative analysis, based on literature analysis and periodic summaries, which lack sufficient objectivity and comprehensiveness. Additionally, systematic research is relatively limited, lacking a macroscopic description of the research trajectory from a holistic perspective. Over the past decade, research on older adults’ technology acceptance has experienced rapid growth, with a significant increase in literature, necessitating the adoption of new methods to review and examine the developmental trends in this field (Chen 2006 ; Van Eck and Waltman 2010 ). Bibliometric analysis, as an effective quantitative research method, analyzes published literature through visualization, offering a viable approach to extracting patterns and insights from a large volume of papers, and has been widely applied in numerous scientific research fields (Achuthan et al. 2023 ; Liu and Duffy 2023 ). Therefore, this study will employ bibliometric methods to systematically analyze research articles related to older adults’ technology acceptance published in the Web of Science Core Collection from 2013 to 2023, aiming to understand the core issues and evolutionary trends in the field, and to provide valuable references for future related research. Specifically, this study aims to explore and answer the following questions:

RQ1: What are the research dynamics in the field of older adults’ technology acceptance over the past decade? What are the main academic journals and fields that publish studies related to older adults’ technology acceptance?

RQ2: How is the productivity in older adults’ technology acceptance research distributed among countries, institutions, and authors?

RQ3: What are the knowledge base and seminal literature in older adults’ technology acceptance research? How has the research theme progressed?

RQ4: What are the current hot topics and their evolutionary trajectories in older adults’ technology acceptance research? How is the quality of research distributed?

Methodology and materials

Research method.

In recent years, bibliometrics has become one of the crucial methods for analyzing literature reviews and is widely used in disciplinary and industrial intelligence analysis (Jing et al. 2023 ; Lin and Yu 2024a ; Wang et al. 2024a ; Xu et al. 2021 ). Bibliometric software facilitates the visualization analysis of extensive literature data, intuitively displaying the network relationships and evolutionary processes between knowledge units, and revealing the underlying knowledge structure and potential information (Chen et al. 2024 ; López-Robles et al. 2018 ; Wang et al. 2024c ). This method provides new insights into the current status and trends of specific research areas, along with quantitative evidence, thereby enhancing the objectivity and scientific validity of the research conclusions (Chen et al. 2023 ; Geng et al. 2024 ). VOSviewer and CiteSpace are two widely used bibliometric software tools in academia (Pan et al. 2018 ), recognized for their robust functionalities based on the JAVA platform. Although each has its unique features, combining these two software tools effectively constructs mapping relationships between literature knowledge units and clearly displays the macrostructure of the knowledge domains. Particularly, VOSviewer, with its excellent graphical representation capabilities, serves as an ideal tool for handling large datasets and precisely identifying the focal points and hotspots of research topics. Therefore, this study utilizes VOSviewer (version 1.6.19) and CiteSpace (version 6.1.R6), combined with in-depth literature analysis, to comprehensively examine and interpret the research theme of older adults’ technology acceptance through an integrated application of quantitative and qualitative methods.

Data source

Web of Science is a comprehensively recognized database in academia, featuring literature that has undergone rigorous peer review and editorial scrutiny (Lin and Yu 2024b ; Mongeon and Paul-Hus 2016 ; Pranckutė 2021 ). This study utilizes the Web of Science Core Collection as its data source, specifically including three major citation indices: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), and Arts & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI). These indices encompass high-quality research literature in the fields of science, social sciences, and arts and humanities, ensuring the comprehensiveness and reliability of the data. We combined “older adults” with “technology acceptance” through thematic search, with the specific search strategy being: TS = (elder OR elderly OR aging OR ageing OR senile OR senior OR old people OR “older adult*”) AND TS = (“technology acceptance” OR “user acceptance” OR “consumer acceptance”). The time span of literature search is from 2013 to 2023, with the types limited to “Article” and “Review” and the language to “English”. Additionally, the search was completed by October 27, 2023, to avoid data discrepancies caused by database updates. The initial search yielded 764 journal articles. Given that searches often retrieve articles that are superficially relevant but actually non-compliant, manual screening post-search was essential to ensure the relevance of the literature (Chen et al. 2024 ). Through manual screening, articles significantly deviating from the research theme were eliminated and rigorously reviewed. Ultimately, this study obtained 500 valid sample articles from the Web of Science Core Collection. The complete PRISMA screening process is illustrated in Fig. 1 .

Presentation of the data culling process in detail.

Data standardization

Raw data exported from databases often contain multiple expressions of the same terminology (Nguyen and Hallinger 2020 ). To ensure the accuracy and consistency of data, it is necessary to standardize the raw data (Strotmann and Zhao 2012 ). This study follows the data standardization process proposed by Taskin and Al ( 2019 ), mainly executing the following operations:

(1) Standardization of author and institution names is conducted to address different name expressions for the same author. For instance, “Chan, Alan Hoi Shou” and “Chan, Alan H. S.” are considered the same author, and distinct authors with the same name are differentiated by adding identifiers. Diverse forms of institutional names are unified to address variations caused by name changes or abbreviations, such as standardizing “FRANKFURT UNIV APPL SCI” and “Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences,” as well as “Chinese University of Hong Kong” and “University of Hong Kong” to consistent names.

(2) Different expressions of journal names are unified. For example, “International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction” and “Int J Hum Comput Interact” are standardized to a single name. This ensures consistency in journal names and prevents misclassification of literature due to differing journal names. Additionally, it involves checking if the journals have undergone name changes in the past decade to prevent any impact on the analysis due to such changes.

(3) Keywords data are cleansed by removing words that do not directly pertain to specific research content (e.g., people, review), merging synonyms (e.g., “UX” and “User Experience,” “aging-in-place” and “aging in place”), and standardizing plural forms of keywords (e.g., “assistive technologies” and “assistive technology,” “social robots” and “social robot”). This reduces redundant information in knowledge mapping.

Bibliometric results and analysis

Distribution power (rq1), literature descriptive statistical analysis.

Table 1 presents a detailed descriptive statistical overview of the literature in the field of older adults’ technology acceptance. After deduplication using the CiteSpace software, this study confirmed a valid sample size of 500 articles. Authored by 1839 researchers, the documents encompass 792 research institutions across 54 countries and are published in 217 different academic journals. As of the search cutoff date, these articles have accumulated 13,829 citations, with an annual average of 1156 citations, and an average of 27.66 citations per article. The h-index, a composite metric of quantity and quality of scientific output (Kamrani et al. 2021 ), reached 60 in this study.

Trends in publications and disciplinary distribution

The number of publications and citations are significant indicators of the research field’s development, reflecting its continuity, attention, and impact (Ale Ebrahim et al. 2014 ). The ranking of annual publications and citations in the field of older adults’ technology acceptance studies is presented chronologically in Fig. 2A . The figure shows a clear upward trend in the amount of literature in this field. Between 2013 and 2017, the number of publications increased slowly and decreased in 2018. However, in 2019, the number of publications increased rapidly to 52 and reached a peak of 108 in 2022, which is 6.75 times higher than in 2013. In 2022, the frequency of document citations reached its highest point with 3466 citations, reflecting the widespread recognition and citation of research in this field. Moreover, the curve of the annual number of publications fits a quadratic function, with a goodness-of-fit R 2 of 0.9661, indicating that the number of future publications is expected to increase even more rapidly.

A Trends in trends in annual publications and citations (2013–2023). B Overlay analysis of the distribution of discipline fields.

Figure 2B shows that research on older adults’ technology acceptance involves the integration of multidisciplinary knowledge. According to Web of Science Categories, these 500 articles are distributed across 85 different disciplines. We have tabulated the top ten disciplines by publication volume (Table 2 ), which include Medical Informatics (75 articles, 15.00%), Health Care Sciences & Services (71 articles, 14.20%), Gerontology (61 articles, 12.20%), Public Environmental & Occupational Health (57 articles, 11.40%), and Geriatrics & Gerontology (52 articles, 10.40%), among others. The high output in these disciplines reflects the concentrated global academic interest in this comprehensive research topic. Additionally, interdisciplinary research approaches provide diverse perspectives and a solid theoretical foundation for studies on older adults’ technology acceptance, also paving the way for new research directions.

Knowledge flow analysis

A dual-map overlay is a CiteSpace map superimposed on top of a base map, which shows the interrelationships between journals in different domains, representing the publication and citation activities in each domain (Chen and Leydesdorff 2014 ). The overlay map reveals the link between the citing domain (on the left side) and the cited domain (on the right side), reflecting the knowledge flow of the discipline at the journal level (Leydesdorff and Rafols 2012 ). We utilize the in-built Z-score algorithm of the software to cluster the graph, as shown in Fig. 3 .

The left side shows the citing journal, and the right side shows the cited journal.

Figure 3 shows the distribution of citing journals clusters for older adults’ technology acceptance on the left side, while the right side refers to the main cited journals clusters. Two knowledge flow citation trajectories were obtained; they are presented by the color of the cited regions, and the thickness of these trajectories is proportional to the Z-score scaled frequency of citations (Chen et al. 2014 ). Within the cited regions, the most popular fields with the most records covered are “HEALTH, NURSING, MEDICINE” and “PSYCHOLOGY, EDUCATION, SOCIAL”, and the elliptical aspect ratio of these two fields stands out. Fields have prominent elliptical aspect ratios, highlighting their significant influence on older adults’ technology acceptance research. Additionally, the major citation trajectories originate in these two areas and progress to the frontier research area of “PSYCHOLOGY, EDUCATION, HEALTH”. It is worth noting that the citation trajectory from “PSYCHOLOGY, EDUCATION, SOCIAL” has a significant Z-value (z = 6.81), emphasizing the significance and impact of this development path. In the future, “MATHEMATICS, SYSTEMS, MATHEMATICAL”, “MOLECULAR, BIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY”, and “NEUROLOGY, SPORTS, OPHTHALMOLOGY” may become emerging fields. The fields of “MEDICINE, MEDICAL, CLINICAL” may be emerging areas of cutting-edge research.

Main research journals analysis

Table 3 provides statistics for the top ten journals by publication volume in the field of older adults’ technology acceptance. Together, these journals have published 137 articles, accounting for 27.40% of the total publications, indicating that there is no highly concentrated core group of journals in this field, with publications being relatively dispersed. Notably, Computers in Human Behavior , Journal of Medical Internet Research , and International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction each lead with 15 publications. In terms of citation metrics, International Journal of Medical Informatics and Computers in Human Behavior stand out significantly, with the former accumulating a total of 1,904 citations, averaging 211.56 citations per article, and the latter totaling 1,449 citations, with an average of 96.60 citations per article. These figures emphasize the academic authority and widespread impact of these journals within the research field.

Research power (RQ2)

Countries and collaborations analysis.

The analysis revealed the global research pattern for country distribution and collaboration (Chen et al. 2019 ). Figure 4A shows the network of national collaborations on older adults’ technology acceptance research. The size of the bubbles represents the amount of publications in each country, while the thickness of the connecting lines expresses the closeness of the collaboration among countries. Generally, this research subject has received extensive international attention, with China and the USA publishing far more than any other countries. China has established notable research collaborations with the USA, UK and Malaysia in this field, while other countries have collaborations, but the closeness is relatively low and scattered. Figure 4B shows the annual publication volume dynamics of the top ten countries in terms of total publications. Since 2017, China has consistently increased its annual publications, while the USA has remained relatively stable. In 2019, the volume of publications in each country increased significantly, this was largely due to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to increased reliance on information technology among the elderly for medical consultations, online socialization, and health management (Sinha et al. 2021 ). This phenomenon has led to research advances in technology acceptance among older adults in various countries. Table 4 shows that the top ten countries account for 93.20% of the total cumulative number of publications, with each country having published more than 20 papers. Among these ten countries, all of them except China are developed countries, indicating that the research field of older adults’ technology acceptance has received general attention from developed countries. Currently, China and the USA were the leading countries in terms of publications with 111 and 104 respectively, accounting for 22.20% and 20.80%. The UK, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands also made significant contributions. The USA and China ranked first and second in terms of the number of citations, while the Netherlands had the highest average citations, indicating the high impact and quality of its research. The UK has shown outstanding performance in international cooperation, while the USA highlights its significant academic influence in this field with the highest h-index value.

A National collaboration network. B Annual volume of publications in the top 10 countries.

Institutions and authors analysis

Analyzing the number of publications and citations can reveal an institution’s or author’s research strength and influence in a particular research area (Kwiek 2021 ). Tables 5 and 6 show the statistics of the institutions and authors whose publication counts are in the top ten, respectively. As shown in Table 5 , higher education institutions hold the main position in this research field. Among the top ten institutions, City University of Hong Kong and The University of Hong Kong from China lead with 14 and 9 publications, respectively. City University of Hong Kong has the highest h-index, highlighting its significant influence in the field. It is worth noting that Tilburg University in the Netherlands is not among the top five in terms of publications, but the high average citation count (130.14) of its literature demonstrates the high quality of its research.

After analyzing the authors’ output using Price’s Law (Redner 1998 ), the highest number of publications among the authors counted ( n = 10) defines a publication threshold of 3 for core authors in this research area. As a result of quantitative screening, a total of 63 core authors were identified. Table 6 shows that Chen from Zhejiang University, China, Ziefle from RWTH Aachen University, Germany, and Rogers from Macquarie University, Australia, were the top three authors in terms of the number of publications, with 10, 9, and 8 articles, respectively. In terms of average citation rate, Peek and Wouters, both scholars from the Netherlands, have significantly higher rates than other scholars, with 183.2 and 152.67 respectively. This suggests that their research is of high quality and widely recognized. Additionally, Chen and Rogers have high h-indices in this field.

Knowledge base and theme progress (RQ3)

Research knowledge base.

Co-citation relationships occur when two documents are cited together (Zhang and Zhu 2022 ). Co-citation mapping uses references as nodes to represent the knowledge base of a subject area (Min et al. 2021). Figure 5A illustrates co-occurrence mapping in older adults’ technology acceptance research, where larger nodes signify higher co-citation frequencies. Co-citation cluster analysis can be used to explore knowledge structure and research boundaries (Hota et al. 2020 ; Shiau et al. 2023 ). The co-citation clustering mapping of older adults’ technology acceptance research literature (Fig. 5B ) shows that the Q value of the clustering result is 0.8129 (>0.3), and the average value of the weight S is 0.9391 (>0.7), indicating that the clusters are uniformly distributed with a significant and credible structure. This further proves that the boundaries of the research field are clear and there is significant differentiation in the field. The figure features 18 cluster labels, each associated with thematic color blocks corresponding to different time slices. Highlighted emerging research themes include #2 Smart Home Technology, #7 Social Live, and #10 Customer Service. Furthermore, the clustering labels extracted are primarily classified into three categories: theoretical model deepening, emerging technology applications, research methods and evaluation, as detailed in Table 7 .

A Co-citation analysis of references. B Clustering network analysis of references.

Seminal literature analysis

The top ten nodes in terms of co-citation frequency were selected for further analysis. Table 8 displays the corresponding node information. Studies were categorized into four main groups based on content analysis. (1) Research focusing on specific technology usage by older adults includes studies by Peek et al. ( 2014 ), Ma et al. ( 2016 ), Hoque and Sorwar ( 2017 ), and Li et al. ( 2019 ), who investigated the factors influencing the use of e-technology, smartphones, mHealth, and smart wearables, respectively. (2) Concerning the development of theoretical models of technology acceptance, Chen and Chan ( 2014 ) introduced the Senior Technology Acceptance Model (STAM), and Macedo ( 2017 ) analyzed the predictive power of UTAUT2 in explaining older adults’ intentional behaviors and information technology usage. (3) In exploring older adults’ information technology adoption and behavior, Lee and Coughlin ( 2015 ) emphasized that the adoption of technology by older adults is a multifactorial process that includes performance, price, value, usability, affordability, accessibility, technical support, social support, emotion, independence, experience, and confidence. Yusif et al. ( 2016 ) conducted a literature review examining the key barriers affecting older adults’ adoption of assistive technology, including factors such as privacy, trust, functionality/added value, cost, and stigma. (4) From the perspective of research into older adults’ technology acceptance, Mitzner et al. ( 2019 ) assessed the long-term usage of computer systems designed for the elderly, whereas Guner and Acarturk ( 2020 ) compared information technology usage and acceptance between older and younger adults. The breadth and prevalence of this literature make it a vital reference for researchers in the field, also providing new perspectives and inspiration for future research directions.

Research thematic progress

Burst citation is a node of literature that guides the sudden change in dosage, which usually represents a prominent development or major change in a particular field, with innovative and forward-looking qualities. By analyzing the emergent literature, it is often easy to understand the dynamics of the subject area, mapping the emerging thematic change (Chen et al. 2022 ). Figure 6 shows the burst citation mapping in the field of older adults’ technology acceptance research, with burst citations represented by red nodes (Fig. 6A ). For the ten papers with the highest burst intensity (Fig. 6B ), this study will conduct further analysis in conjunction with literature review.

A Burst detection of co-citation. B The top 10 references with the strongest citation bursts.

As shown in Fig. 6 , Mitzner et al. ( 2010 ) broke the stereotype that older adults are fearful of technology, found that they actually have positive attitudes toward technology, and emphasized the centrality of ease of use and usefulness in the process of technology acceptance. This finding provides an important foundation for subsequent research. During the same period, Wagner et al. ( 2010 ) conducted theory-deepening and applied research on technology acceptance among older adults. The research focused on older adults’ interactions with computers from the perspective of Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). This expanded the understanding of technology acceptance, particularly regarding the relationship between behavior, environment, and other SCT elements. In addition, Pan and Jordan-Marsh ( 2010 ) extended the TAM to examine the interactions among predictors of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, subjective norm, and convenience conditions when older adults use the Internet, taking into account the moderating roles of gender and age. Heerink et al. ( 2010 ) adapted and extended the UTAUT, constructed a technology acceptance model specifically designed for older users’ acceptance of assistive social agents, and validated it using controlled experiments and longitudinal data, explaining intention to use by combining functional assessment and social interaction variables.

Then the research theme shifted to an in-depth analysis of the factors influencing technology acceptance among older adults. Two papers with high burst strengths emerged during this period: Peek et al. ( 2014 ) (Strength = 12.04), Chen and Chan ( 2014 ) (Strength = 9.81). Through a systematic literature review and empirical study, Peek STM and Chen K, among others, identified multidimensional factors that influence older adults’ technology acceptance. Peek et al. ( 2014 ) analyzed literature on the acceptance of in-home care technology among older adults and identified six factors that influence their acceptance: concerns about technology, expected benefits, technology needs, technology alternatives, social influences, and older adult characteristics, with a focus on differences between pre- and post-implementation factors. Chen and Chan ( 2014 ) constructed the STAM by administering a questionnaire to 1012 older adults and adding eight important factors, including technology anxiety, self-efficacy, cognitive ability, and physical function, based on the TAM. This enriches the theoretical foundation of the field. In addition, Braun ( 2013 ) highlighted the role of perceived usefulness, trust in social networks, and frequency of Internet use in older adults’ use of social networks, while ease of use and social pressure were not significant influences. These findings contribute to the study of older adults’ technology acceptance within specific technology application domains.

Recent research has focused on empirical studies of personal factors and emerging technologies. Ma et al. ( 2016 ) identified key personal factors affecting smartphone acceptance among older adults through structured questionnaires and face-to-face interviews with 120 participants. The study found that cost, self-satisfaction, and convenience were important factors influencing perceived usefulness and ease of use. This study offers empirical evidence to comprehend the main factors that drive smartphone acceptance among Chinese older adults. Additionally, Yusif et al. ( 2016 ) presented an overview of the obstacles that hinder older adults’ acceptance of assistive technologies, focusing on privacy, trust, and functionality.

In summary, research on older adults’ technology acceptance has shifted from early theoretical deepening and analysis of influencing factors to empirical studies in the areas of personal factors and emerging technologies, which have greatly enriched the theoretical basis of older adults’ technology acceptance and provided practical guidance for the design of emerging technology products.

Research hotspots, evolutionary trends, and quality distribution (RQ4)

Core keywords analysis.

Keywords concise the main idea and core of the literature, and are a refined summary of the research content (Huang et al. 2021 ). In CiteSpace, nodes with a centrality value greater than 0.1 are considered to be critical nodes. Analyzing keywords with high frequency and centrality helps to visualize the hot topics in the research field (Park et al. 2018 ). The merged keywords were imported into CiteSpace, and the top 10 keywords were counted and sorted by frequency and centrality respectively, as shown in Table 9 . The results show that the keyword “TAM” has the highest frequency (92), followed by “UTAUT” (24), which reflects that the in-depth study of the existing technology acceptance model and its theoretical expansion occupy a central position in research related to older adults’ technology acceptance. Furthermore, the terms ‘assistive technology’ and ‘virtual reality’ are both high-frequency and high-centrality terms (frequency = 17, centrality = 0.10), indicating that the research on assistive technology and virtual reality for older adults is the focus of current academic attention.

Research hotspots analysis

Using VOSviewer for keyword co-occurrence analysis organizes keywords into groups or clusters based on their intrinsic connections and frequencies, clearly highlighting the research field’s hot topics. The connectivity among keywords reveals correlations between different topics. To ensure accuracy, the analysis only considered the authors’ keywords. Subsequently, the keywords were filtered by setting the keyword frequency to 5 to obtain the keyword clustering map of the research on older adults’ technology acceptance research keyword clustering mapping (Fig. 7 ), combined with the keyword co-occurrence clustering network (Fig. 7A ) and the corresponding density situation (Fig. 7B ) to make a detailed analysis of the following four groups of clustered themes.

A Co-occurrence clustering network. B Keyword density.

Cluster #1—Research on the factors influencing technology adoption among older adults is a prominent topic, covering age, gender, self-efficacy, attitude, and and intention to use (Berkowsky et al. 2017 ; Wang et al. 2017 ). It also examined older adults’ attitudes towards and acceptance of digital health technologies (Ahmad and Mozelius, 2022 ). Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly impacting older adults’ technology attitudes and usage, has underscored the study’s importance and urgency. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct in-depth studies on how older adults accept, adopt, and effectively use new technologies, to address their needs and help them overcome the digital divide within digital inclusion. This will improve their quality of life and healthcare experiences.

Cluster #2—Research focuses on how older adults interact with assistive technologies, especially assistive robots and health monitoring devices, emphasizing trust, usability, and user experience as crucial factors (Halim et al. 2022 ). Moreover, health monitoring technologies effectively track and manage health issues common in older adults, like dementia and mild cognitive impairment (Lussier et al. 2018 ; Piau et al. 2019 ). Interactive exercise games and virtual reality have been deployed to encourage more physical and cognitive engagement among older adults (Campo-Prieto et al. 2021 ). Personalized and innovative technology significantly enhances older adults’ participation, improving their health and well-being.

Cluster #3—Optimizing health management for older adults using mobile technology. With the development of mobile health (mHealth) and health information technology, mobile applications, smartphones, and smart wearable devices have become effective tools to help older users better manage chronic conditions, conduct real-time health monitoring, and even receive telehealth services (Dupuis and Tsotsos 2018 ; Olmedo-Aguirre et al. 2022 ; Kim et al. 2014 ). Additionally, these technologies can mitigate the problem of healthcare resource inequality, especially in developing countries. Older adults’ acceptance and use of these technologies are significantly influenced by their behavioral intentions, motivational factors, and self-management skills. These internal motivational factors, along with external factors, jointly affect older adults’ performance in health management and quality of life.

Cluster #4—Research on technology-assisted home care for older adults is gaining popularity. Environmentally assisted living enhances older adults’ independence and comfort at home, offering essential support and security. This has a crucial impact on promoting healthy aging (Friesen et al. 2016 ; Wahlroos et al. 2023 ). The smart home is a core application in this field, providing a range of solutions that facilitate independent living for the elderly in a highly integrated and user-friendly manner. This fulfills different dimensions of living and health needs (Majumder et al. 2017 ). Moreover, eHealth offers accurate and personalized health management and healthcare services for older adults (Delmastro et al. 2018 ), ensuring their needs are met at home. Research in this field often employs qualitative methods and structural equation modeling to fully understand older adults’ needs and experiences at home and analyze factors influencing technology adoption.

Evolutionary trends analysis

To gain a deeper understanding of the evolutionary trends in research hotspots within the field of older adults’ technology acceptance, we conducted a statistical analysis of the average appearance times of keywords, using CiteSpace to generate the time-zone evolution mapping (Fig. 8 ) and burst keywords. The time-zone mapping visually displays the evolution of keywords over time, intuitively reflecting the frequency and initial appearance of keywords in research, commonly used to identify trends in research topics (Jing et al. 2024a ; Kumar et al. 2021 ). Table 10 lists the top 15 keywords by burst strength, with the red sections indicating high-frequency citations and their burst strength in specific years. These burst keywords reveal the focus and trends of research themes over different periods (Kleinberg 2002 ). Combining insights from the time-zone mapping and burst keywords provides more objective and accurate research insights (Wang et al. 2023b ).

Reflecting the frequency and time of first appearance of keywords in the study.

An integrated analysis of Fig. 8 and Table 10 shows that early research on older adults’ technology acceptance primarily focused on factors such as perceived usefulness, ease of use, and attitudes towards information technology, including their use of computers and the internet (Pan and Jordan-Marsh 2010 ), as well as differences in technology use between older adults and other age groups (Guner and Acarturk 2020 ). Subsequently, the research focus expanded to improving the quality of life for older adults, exploring how technology can optimize health management and enhance the possibility of independent living, emphasizing the significant role of technology in improving the quality of life for the elderly. With ongoing technological advancements, recent research has shifted towards areas such as “virtual reality,” “telehealth,” and “human-robot interaction,” with a focus on the user experience of older adults (Halim et al. 2022 ). The appearance of keywords such as “physical activity” and “exercise” highlights the value of technology in promoting physical activity and health among older adults. This phase of research tends to make cutting-edge technology genuinely serve the practical needs of older adults, achieving its widespread application in daily life. Additionally, research has focused on expanding and quantifying theoretical models of older adults’ technology acceptance, involving keywords such as “perceived risk”, “validation” and “UTAUT”.

In summary, from 2013 to 2023, the field of older adults’ technology acceptance has evolved from initial explorations of influencing factors, to comprehensive enhancements in quality of life and health management, and further to the application and deepening of theoretical models and cutting-edge technologies. This research not only reflects the diversity and complexity of the field but also demonstrates a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of older adults’ interactions with technology across various life scenarios and needs.

Research quality distribution

To reveal the distribution of research quality in the field of older adults’ technology acceptance, a strategic diagram analysis is employed to calculate and illustrate the internal development and interrelationships among various research themes (Xie et al. 2020 ). The strategic diagram uses Centrality as the X-axis and Density as the Y-axis to divide into four quadrants, where the X-axis represents the strength of the connection between thematic clusters and other themes, with higher values indicating a central position in the research field; the Y-axis indicates the level of development within the thematic clusters, with higher values denoting a more mature and widely recognized field (Li and Zhou 2020 ).

Through cluster analysis and manual verification, this study categorized 61 core keywords (Frequency ≥5) into 11 thematic clusters. Subsequently, based on the keywords covered by each thematic cluster, the research themes and their directions for each cluster were summarized (Table 11 ), and the centrality and density coordinates for each cluster were precisely calculated (Table 12 ). Finally, a strategic diagram of the older adults’ technology acceptance research field was constructed (Fig. 9 ). Based on the distribution of thematic clusters across the quadrants in the strategic diagram, the structure and developmental trends of the field were interpreted.

Classification and visualization of theme clusters based on density and centrality.

As illustrated in Fig. 9 , (1) the theme clusters of #3 Usage Experience and #4 Assisted Living Technology are in the first quadrant, characterized by high centrality and density. Their internal cohesion and close links with other themes indicate their mature development, systematic research content or directions have been formed, and they have a significant influence on other themes. These themes play a central role in the field of older adults’ technology acceptance and have promising prospects. (2) The theme clusters of #6 Smart Devices, #9 Theoretical Models, and #10 Mobile Health Applications are in the second quadrant, with higher density but lower centrality. These themes have strong internal connections but weaker external links, indicating that these three themes have received widespread attention from researchers and have been the subject of related research, but more as self-contained systems and exhibit independence. Therefore, future research should further explore in-depth cooperation and cross-application with other themes. (3) The theme clusters of #7 Human-Robot Interaction, #8 Characteristics of the Elderly, and #11 Research Methods are in the third quadrant, with lower centrality and density. These themes are loosely connected internally and have weak links with others, indicating their developmental immaturity. Compared to other topics, they belong to the lower attention edge and niche themes, and there is a need for further investigation. (4) The theme clusters of #1 Digital Healthcare Technology, #2 Psychological Factors, and #5 Socio-Cultural Factors are located in the fourth quadrant, with high centrality but low density. Although closely associated with other research themes, the internal cohesion within these clusters is relatively weak. This suggests that while these themes are closely linked to other research areas, their own development remains underdeveloped, indicating a core immaturity. Nevertheless, these themes are crucial within the research domain of elderly technology acceptance and possess significant potential for future exploration.

Discussion on distribution power (RQ1)

Over the past decade, academic interest and influence in the area of older adults’ technology acceptance have significantly increased. This trend is evidenced by a quantitative analysis of publication and citation volumes, particularly noticeable in 2019 and 2022, where there was a substantial rise in both metrics. The rise is closely linked to the widespread adoption of emerging technologies such as smart homes, wearable devices, and telemedicine among older adults. While these technologies have enhanced their quality of life, they also pose numerous challenges, sparking extensive research into their acceptance, usage behaviors, and influencing factors among the older adults (Pirzada et al. 2022 ; Garcia Reyes et al. 2023 ). Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in technology demand among older adults, especially in areas like medical consultation, online socialization, and health management, further highlighting the importance and challenges of technology. Health risks and social isolation have compelled older adults to rely on technology for daily activities, accelerating its adoption and application within this demographic. This phenomenon has made technology acceptance a critical issue, driving societal and academic focus on the study of technology acceptance among older adults.

The flow of knowledge at the level of high-output disciplines and journals, along with the primary publishing outlets, indicates the highly interdisciplinary nature of research into older adults’ technology acceptance. This reflects the complexity and breadth of issues related to older adults’ technology acceptance, necessitating the integration of multidisciplinary knowledge and approaches. Currently, research is primarily focused on medical health and human-computer interaction, demonstrating academic interest in improving health and quality of life for older adults and addressing the urgent needs related to their interactions with technology. In the field of medical health, research aims to provide advanced and innovative healthcare technologies and services to meet the challenges of an aging population while improving the quality of life for older adults (Abdi et al. 2020 ; Wilson et al. 2021 ). In the field of human-computer interaction, research is focused on developing smarter and more user-friendly interaction models to meet the needs of older adults in the digital age, enabling them to actively participate in social activities and enjoy a higher quality of life (Sayago, 2019 ). These studies are crucial for addressing the challenges faced by aging societies, providing increased support and opportunities for the health, welfare, and social participation of older adults.

Discussion on research power (RQ2)

This study analyzes leading countries and collaboration networks, core institutions and authors, revealing the global research landscape and distribution of research strength in the field of older adults’ technology acceptance, and presents quantitative data on global research trends. From the analysis of country distribution and collaborations, China and the USA hold dominant positions in this field, with developed countries like the UK, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands also excelling in international cooperation and research influence. The significant investment in technological research and the focus on the technological needs of older adults by many developed countries reflect their rapidly aging societies, policy support, and resource allocation.

China is the only developing country that has become a major contributor in this field, indicating its growing research capabilities and high priority given to aging societies and technological innovation. Additionally, China has close collaborations with countries such as USA, the UK, and Malaysia, driven not only by technological research needs but also by shared challenges and complementarities in aging issues among these nations. For instance, the UK has extensive experience in social welfare and aging research, providing valuable theoretical guidance and practical experience. International collaborations, aimed at addressing the challenges of aging, integrate the strengths of various countries, advancing in-depth and widespread development in the research of technology acceptance among older adults.

At the institutional and author level, City University of Hong Kong leads in publication volume, with research teams led by Chan and Chen demonstrating significant academic activity and contributions. Their research primarily focuses on older adults’ acceptance and usage behaviors of various technologies, including smartphones, smart wearables, and social robots (Chen et al. 2015 ; Li et al. 2019 ; Ma et al. 2016 ). These studies, targeting specific needs and product characteristics of older adults, have developed new models of technology acceptance based on existing frameworks, enhancing the integration of these technologies into their daily lives and laying a foundation for further advancements in the field. Although Tilburg University has a smaller publication output, it holds significant influence in the field of older adults’ technology acceptance. Particularly, the high citation rate of Peek’s studies highlights their excellence in research. Peek extensively explored older adults’ acceptance and usage of home care technologies, revealing the complexity and dynamics of their technology use behaviors. His research spans from identifying systemic influencing factors (Peek et al. 2014 ; Peek et al. 2016 ), emphasizing familial impacts (Luijkx et al. 2015 ), to constructing comprehensive models (Peek et al. 2017 ), and examining the dynamics of long-term usage (Peek et al. 2019 ), fully reflecting the evolving technology landscape and the changing needs of older adults. Additionally, the ongoing contributions of researchers like Ziefle, Rogers, and Wouters in the field of older adults’ technology acceptance demonstrate their research influence and leadership. These researchers have significantly enriched the knowledge base in this area with their diverse perspectives. For instance, Ziefle has uncovered the complex attitudes of older adults towards technology usage, especially the trade-offs between privacy and security, and how different types of activities affect their privacy needs (Maidhof et al. 2023 ; Mujirishvili et al. 2023 ; Schomakers and Ziefle 2023 ; Wilkowska et al. 2022 ), reflecting a deep exploration and ongoing innovation in the field of older adults’ technology acceptance.

Discussion on knowledge base and thematic progress (RQ3)

Through co-citation analysis and systematic review of seminal literature, this study reveals the knowledge foundation and thematic progress in the field of older adults’ technology acceptance. Co-citation networks and cluster analyses illustrate the structural themes of the research, delineating the differentiation and boundaries within this field. Additionally, burst detection analysis offers a valuable perspective for understanding the thematic evolution in the field of technology acceptance among older adults. The development and innovation of theoretical models are foundational to this research. Researchers enhance the explanatory power of constructed models by deepening and expanding existing technology acceptance theories to address theoretical limitations. For instance, Heerink et al. ( 2010 ) modified and expanded the UTAUT model by integrating functional assessment and social interaction variables to create the almere model. This model significantly enhances the ability to explain the intentions of older users in utilizing assistive social agents and improves the explanation of actual usage behaviors. Additionally, Chen and Chan ( 2014 ) extended the TAM to include age-related health and capability features of older adults, creating the STAM, which substantially improves predictions of older adults’ technology usage behaviors. Personal attributes, health and capability features, and facilitating conditions have a direct impact on technology acceptance. These factors more effectively predict older adults’ technology usage behaviors than traditional attitudinal factors.

With the advancement of technology and the application of emerging technologies, new research topics have emerged, increasingly focusing on older adults’ acceptance and use of these technologies. Prior to this, the study by Mitzner et al. ( 2010 ) challenged the stereotype of older adults’ conservative attitudes towards technology, highlighting the central roles of usability and usefulness in the technology acceptance process. This discovery laid an important foundation for subsequent research. Research fields such as “smart home technology,” “social life,” and “customer service” are emerging, indicating a shift in focus towards the practical and social applications of technology in older adults’ lives. Research not only focuses on the technology itself but also on how these technologies integrate into older adults’ daily lives and how they can improve the quality of life through technology. For instance, studies such as those by Ma et al. ( 2016 ), Hoque and Sorwar ( 2017 ), and Li et al. ( 2019 ) have explored factors influencing older adults’ use of smartphones, mHealth, and smart wearable devices.

Furthermore, the diversification of research methodologies and innovation in evaluation techniques, such as the use of mixed methods, structural equation modeling (SEM), and neural network (NN) approaches, have enhanced the rigor and reliability of the findings, enabling more precise identification of the factors and mechanisms influencing technology acceptance. Talukder et al. ( 2020 ) employed an effective multimethodological strategy by integrating SEM and NN to leverage the complementary strengths of both approaches, thus overcoming their individual limitations and more accurately analyzing and predicting older adults’ acceptance of wearable health technologies (WHT). SEM is utilized to assess the determinants’ impact on the adoption of WHT, while neural network models validate SEM outcomes and predict the significance of key determinants. This combined approach not only boosts the models’ reliability and explanatory power but also provides a nuanced understanding of the motivations and barriers behind older adults’ acceptance of WHT, offering deep research insights.

Overall, co-citation analysis of the literature in the field of older adults’ technology acceptance has uncovered deeper theoretical modeling and empirical studies on emerging technologies, while emphasizing the importance of research methodological and evaluation innovations in understanding complex social science issues. These findings are crucial for guiding the design and marketing strategies of future technology products, especially in the rapidly growing market of older adults.

Discussion on research hotspots and evolutionary trends (RQ4)

By analyzing core keywords, we can gain deep insights into the hot topics, evolutionary trends, and quality distribution of research in the field of older adults’ technology acceptance. The frequent occurrence of the keywords “TAM” and “UTAUT” indicates that the applicability and theoretical extension of existing technology acceptance models among older adults remain a focal point in academia. This phenomenon underscores the enduring influence of the studies by Davis ( 1989 ) and Venkatesh et al. ( 2003 ), whose models provide a robust theoretical framework for explaining and predicting older adults’ acceptance and usage of emerging technologies. With the widespread application of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data technologies, these theoretical models have incorporated new variables such as perceived risk, trust, and privacy issues (Amin et al. 2024 ; Chen et al. 2024 ; Jing et al. 2024b ; Seibert et al. 2021 ; Wang et al. 2024b ), advancing the theoretical depth and empirical research in this field.

Keyword co-occurrence cluster analysis has revealed multiple research hotspots in the field, including factors influencing technology adoption, interactive experiences between older adults and assistive technologies, the application of mobile health technology in health management, and technology-assisted home care. These studies primarily focus on enhancing the quality of life and health management of older adults through emerging technologies, particularly in the areas of ambient assisted living, smart health monitoring, and intelligent medical care. In these domains, the role of AI technology is increasingly significant (Qian et al. 2021 ; Ho 2020 ). With the evolution of next-generation information technologies, AI is increasingly integrated into elder care systems, offering intelligent, efficient, and personalized service solutions by analyzing the lifestyles and health conditions of older adults. This integration aims to enhance older adults’ quality of life in aspects such as health monitoring and alerts, rehabilitation assistance, daily health management, and emotional support (Lee et al. 2023 ). A survey indicates that 83% of older adults prefer AI-driven solutions when selecting smart products, demonstrating the increasing acceptance of AI in elder care (Zhao and Li 2024 ). Integrating AI into elder care presents both opportunities and challenges, particularly in terms of user acceptance, trust, and long-term usage effects, which warrant further exploration (Mhlanga 2023 ). These studies will help better understand the profound impact of AI technology on the lifestyles of older adults and provide critical references for optimizing AI-driven elder care services.

The Time-zone evolution mapping and burst keyword analysis further reveal the evolutionary trends of research hotspots. Early studies focused on basic technology acceptance models and user perceptions, later expanding to include quality of life and health management. In recent years, research has increasingly focused on cutting-edge technologies such as virtual reality, telehealth, and human-robot interaction, with a concurrent emphasis on the user experience of older adults. This evolutionary process demonstrates a deepening shift from theoretical models to practical applications, underscoring the significant role of technology in enhancing the quality of life for older adults. Furthermore, the strategic coordinate mapping analysis clearly demonstrates the development and mutual influence of different research themes. High centrality and density in the themes of Usage Experience and Assisted Living Technology indicate their mature research status and significant impact on other themes. The themes of Smart Devices, Theoretical Models, and Mobile Health Applications demonstrate self-contained research trends. The themes of Human-Robot Interaction, Characteristics of the Elderly, and Research Methods are not yet mature, but they hold potential for development. Themes of Digital Healthcare Technology, Psychological Factors, and Socio-Cultural Factors are closely related to other themes, displaying core immaturity but significant potential.

In summary, the research hotspots in the field of older adults’ technology acceptance are diverse and dynamic, demonstrating the academic community’s profound understanding of how older adults interact with technology across various life contexts and needs. Under the influence of AI and big data, research should continue to focus on the application of emerging technologies among older adults, exploring in depth how they adapt to and effectively use these technologies. This not only enhances the quality of life and healthcare experiences for older adults but also drives ongoing innovation and development in this field.

Research agenda

Based on the above research findings, to further understand and promote technology acceptance and usage among older adults, we recommend future studies focus on refining theoretical models, exploring long-term usage, and assessing user experience in the following detailed aspects:

Refinement and validation of specific technology acceptance models for older adults: Future research should focus on developing and validating technology acceptance models based on individual characteristics, particularly considering variations in technology acceptance among older adults across different educational levels and cultural backgrounds. This includes factors such as age, gender, educational background, and cultural differences. Additionally, research should examine how well specific technologies, such as wearable devices and mobile health applications, meet the needs of older adults. Building on existing theoretical models, this research should integrate insights from multiple disciplines such as psychology, sociology, design, and engineering through interdisciplinary collaboration to create more accurate and comprehensive models, which should then be validated in relevant contexts.

Deepening the exploration of the relationship between long-term technology use and quality of life among older adults: The acceptance and use of technology by users is a complex and dynamic process (Seuwou et al. 2016 ). Existing research predominantly focuses on older adults’ initial acceptance or short-term use of new technologies; however, the impact of long-term use on their quality of life and health is more significant. Future research should focus on the evolution of older adults’ experiences and needs during long-term technology usage, and the enduring effects of technology on their social interactions, mental health, and life satisfaction. Through longitudinal studies and qualitative analysis, this research reveals the specific needs and challenges of older adults in long-term technology use, providing a basis for developing technologies and strategies that better meet their requirements. This understanding aids in comprehensively assessing the impact of technology on older adults’ quality of life and guiding the optimization and improvement of technological products.

Evaluating the Importance of User Experience in Research on Older Adults’ Technology Acceptance: Understanding the mechanisms of information technology acceptance and use is central to human-computer interaction research. Although technology acceptance models and user experience models differ in objectives, they share many potential intersections. Technology acceptance research focuses on structured prediction and assessment, while user experience research concentrates on interpreting design impacts and new frameworks. Integrating user experience to assess older adults’ acceptance of technology products and systems is crucial (Codfrey et al. 2022 ; Wang et al. 2019 ), particularly for older users, where specific product designs should emphasize practicality and usability (Fisk et al. 2020 ). Researchers need to explore innovative age-appropriate design methods to enhance older adults’ usage experience. This includes studying older users’ actual usage preferences and behaviors, optimizing user interfaces, and interaction designs. Integrating feedback from older adults to tailor products to their needs can further promote their acceptance and continued use of technology products.

Conclusions

This study conducted a systematic review of the literature on older adults’ technology acceptance over the past decade through bibliometric analysis, focusing on the distribution power, research power, knowledge base and theme progress, research hotspots, evolutionary trends, and quality distribution. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, this study has reached the following conclusions:

Technology acceptance among older adults has become a hot topic in the international academic community, involving the integration of knowledge across multiple disciplines, including Medical Informatics, Health Care Sciences Services, and Ergonomics. In terms of journals, “PSYCHOLOGY, EDUCATION, HEALTH” represents a leading field, with key publications including Computers in Human Behavior , Journal of Medical Internet Research , and International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction . These journals possess significant academic authority and extensive influence in the field.

Research on technology acceptance among older adults is particularly active in developed countries, with China and USA publishing significantly more than other nations. The Netherlands leads in high average citation rates, indicating the depth and impact of its research. Meanwhile, the UK stands out in terms of international collaboration. At the institutional level, City University of Hong Kong and The University of Hong Kong in China are in leading positions. Tilburg University in the Netherlands demonstrates exceptional research quality through its high average citation count. At the author level, Chen from China has the highest number of publications, while Peek from the Netherlands has the highest average citation count.

Co-citation analysis of references indicates that the knowledge base in this field is divided into three main categories: theoretical model deepening, emerging technology applications, and research methods and evaluation. Seminal literature focuses on four areas: specific technology use by older adults, expansion of theoretical models of technology acceptance, information technology adoption behavior, and research perspectives. Research themes have evolved from initial theoretical deepening and analysis of influencing factors to empirical studies on individual factors and emerging technologies.

Keyword analysis indicates that TAM and UTAUT are the most frequently occurring terms, while “assistive technology” and “virtual reality” are focal points with high frequency and centrality. Keyword clustering analysis reveals that research hotspots are concentrated on the influencing factors of technology adoption, human-robot interaction experiences, mobile health management, and technology for aging in place. Time-zone evolution mapping and burst keyword analysis have revealed the research evolution from preliminary exploration of influencing factors, to enhancements in quality of life and health management, and onto advanced technology applications and deepening of theoretical models. Furthermore, analysis of research quality distribution indicates that Usage Experience and Assisted Living Technology have become core topics, while Smart Devices, Theoretical Models, and Mobile Health Applications point towards future research directions.

Through this study, we have systematically reviewed the dynamics, core issues, and evolutionary trends in the field of older adults’ technology acceptance, constructing a comprehensive Knowledge Mapping of the domain and presenting a clear framework of existing research. This not only lays the foundation for subsequent theoretical discussions and innovative applications in the field but also provides an important reference for relevant scholars.

Limitations

To our knowledge, this is the first bibliometric analysis concerning technology acceptance among older adults, and we adhered strictly to bibliometric standards throughout our research. However, this study relies on the Web of Science Core Collection, and while its authority and breadth are widely recognized, this choice may have missed relevant literature published in other significant databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, potentially overlooking some critical academic contributions. Moreover, given that our analysis was confined to literature in English, it may not reflect studies published in other languages, somewhat limiting the global representativeness of our data sample.

It is noteworthy that with the rapid development of AI technology, its increasingly widespread application in elderly care services is significantly transforming traditional care models. AI is profoundly altering the lifestyles of the elderly, from health monitoring and smart diagnostics to intelligent home systems and personalized care, significantly enhancing their quality of life and health care standards. The potential for AI technology within the elderly population is immense, and research in this area is rapidly expanding. However, due to the restrictive nature of the search terms used in this study, it did not fully cover research in this critical area, particularly in addressing key issues such as trust, privacy, and ethics.

Consequently, future research should not only expand data sources, incorporating multilingual and multidatabase literature, but also particularly focus on exploring older adults’ acceptance of AI technology and its applications, in order to construct a more comprehensive academic landscape of older adults’ technology acceptance, thereby enriching and extending the knowledge system and academic trends in this field.

Data availability

The datasets analyzed during the current study are available in the Dataverse repository: https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/6K0GJH .

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This research was supported by the Social Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province in China (Grant No. 2023J014).

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Shang, X., Liu, Z., Gong, C. et al. Knowledge mapping and evolution of research on older adults’ technology acceptance: a bibliometric study from 2013 to 2023. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 11 , 1115 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03658-2

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The associations of intimacy and sexuality in daily life

Nele Jacobs

Peter Verboon

Introduction

The present study

Sexual desire

Sexual activity

Data analysis

Descriptive statistics

Testing the hypothesized temporal associations between intimacy and sexual desire at the beep level

Testing the hypothesized mediation effect of sexual desire on the association between intimacy and sexual activity at day level

Testing the hypothesized cross-sectional associations between intimacy, sexual desire, and partnered sexual activity

Supplemental Material

Human Sexuality: Personal Reflection Research Paper

Introduction

Knowledge mapping and evolution of research on older adults’ technology acceptance: a bibliometric study from 2013 to 2023

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