Table 2. Summary of the characteristics of the included studies in the systematic review on sexual health and well-being.
| Study | Country | Sample characteristics | Study design | Sexual health measures | Health and well-being measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tracy & Junginger, 200773 | USA | 350 women; mean age 35.5 years (SD: 11.4; range: 18–73) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index-modified version | Brief Symptom Inventory |
| Davison et al., 200993 | Australia | 421 women aged 18–65 years; mean age of premenopause group 39.6 years (SD: 6.7); postmenopause group: 55.5 (SD: 5.4) | Cross-sectional | Psychological General Well-being Index and the Beck Depression Index (at baseline); Daily diary of sexual frequency | Psychological General Well-being Index and Beck Depression Inventory |
| Rosen et al., 200937 | USA | 31 581 womene aged 18–75 years | Cross-sectional | Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire Short-Form and Female Sexual Distress Scale-12 | 12-Item Short Form Survey |
| Sangi-Haghpeyka et al., 200940 | USA | 138 women 137 men; mean age 29.3 years | Cross-sectional | Male Sexual Function Inventory and, Female Sexual Function Index | Quality of Life Inventory-36 and Stress Inventory |
| Çaliskan et al., 201033 | Türkiye | 300 women aged 40–50 years | Cross-sectional | Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction | WHO Quality of Life Brief Version |
| Holmberg et al., 201064 | Canada | 322 women; mean age for women in mixed-sex relationship 26.0 years (SD: 6.65; range: 18–55); for same sex-relationship 33.6 (SD: 9.77; range 18–58) | Cross-sectional | Index of Sexual Satisfaction and Sexual Satisfaction Inventory | Cohen–Hoberman Inventory of Physical Symptoms, Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale,-20, State–Trait Anxiety Inventory and 10-item Perceived Stress Scale |
| Smith et al., 201067 | USA | 844 men; mean age 25.7 years (SD: 4.1) | Cross-sectional | International Index of Erectile Function and Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool | Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale |
| Chao et al., 201161 | China, Taiwan | 83 women and 200 men aged ≥ 45 years | Cross-sectional | Sexual Desire Inventory and Sexual Satisfaction Scale | WHO Quality of Life Assessment |
| Shindel et al., 201168 | USA | 1241 women; mean age 25.4 years (SD: 3.4) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index | Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale |
| Chang et al., 201274 | China, Taiwan | 555 women aged ≥ 18 years; mean age 32.95 years (SD: 0.16) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index | Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale |
| Ferreira et al., 201238 | Brazil | 51 women; mean age 26.9 years (SD: 5.3; range: 20–37) | Cross-sectional | Sexual Quotient-Female version | WHO Quality of Life Brief Version |
| Dogan et al., 201394 | Türkiye | 204 women; mean age 31.98 years (range: 17–63) | Cross-sectional | Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire-Female version | Satisfaction with Life Scale and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire-Short Form |
| Nik-Azin et al., 201335 | Islamic Republic of Iran | 150 women; mean age 28.4 years (SD: 4.96) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index | Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale −21 and WHO Quality of Life Brief Version |
| Pastuszak et al., 201377 | USA | 186 men; mean age 52.6 years (SD: 12.7) | Cross-sectional | International Index of Erectile Function | Patient Health Questionnaire-9 |
| Ribeiro et al., 201472 | Brazil | 152 women, age not reported | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index | Beck Depression Inventory |
| Flynn & Gow, 201555 | United Kingdom | 62 women and 71 men; mean age 74 years (SD: 7.1; range: 65–92) | Cross-sectional | Sexual Behaviour Frequency Scale and participants were asked to rate the same sexual behaviours in terms of importance | WHO Quality of Life Brief Version |
| Kim & Kang, 201556 | Republic of Korea | 186 women and 181 men; mean age 52.77 years (SD: 4.5; range: 45–60) | Cross-sectional | Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire | Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and WHO Quality of Life Brief Version |
| del Mar Sánchez-Fuentes & Sierra, 201565 | Spain | 1 009 women and 1 015 mend aged 18–80 years | Cross-sectional | Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction | Short Form 36, Symptom Assessment-45 Questionnaire |
| Ghazanfarpour et al., 201650 | Islamic Republic of Iran | 202 women;c mean age 52.69 years (SD: 37; range: 40–70) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index | Menopause-Specific Quality of Life |
| Muise et al., 201684 | Canada | 197 women and 138 men;d mean age 31 years (SD: 9; range: 18–64) | Cross-sectional | Sexual frequency | Satisfaction with Life Scale |
| Schlichthorst et al., 201663 | Australia | 12 636 men;e mean age 35.0 years (SD: 10; range: 18–55) | Longitudinal | National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles sexual function questionnaire-3 | 12-Item Short Form Survey |
| Alidost et al., 201753 | Islamic Republic of Iran | 300 women; mean age 27.38 years (SD: 5.49; range: 16–43) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index | WHO Quality of Life Brief Version and Prenatal Anxiety Questionnaire |
| Debrot et al., 201792 (study 1) | USA | 138 men and 197 women; mean age 31 years (SD: 9.1; range:18–64) | Cross-sectional | Sexual frequency: participants indicated how frequently they engaged in sex with their partner. Affectionate touch frequency: participants indicated the general frequency of affectionate touch (e.g. cuddling, kissing, caressing) in their relationship. | Satisfaction with Life Scale |
| Ellouze et al., 201746 | Tunisia | 100 women; mean age 29.4 years (SD: 5.6) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index | Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and 12-Item Short Form Survey |
| Nazarpour et al., 201739 | Islamic Republic of Iran | 405 women; mean age 52.8 years (SD: 3.7) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index | WHO Quality of Life Brief Version |
| Wåhlin-Jacobsen et al., 201789 | Denmark | 428 women aged 19–58 years | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index and Female Sexual Distress Scale | Beck Depression Inventory-II |
| Worsley et al., 201769 | Australia | 2020 women; mean age 52.6 years (SD: 6.8; range 40–65) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index; Female Sexual Distress Scale-revised | Beck Depression Inventory-II |
| Abedi et al., 201866 | Islamic Republic of Iran | 1200 womena; mean age 30.76 years (SD: 7.14; range:15–45) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index | Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile 2 |
| Nimbi et al., 201875 | Italy | 298 men; mean age 32.66 years (SD:11.52; range 18–72) | Cross-sectional | International Index of Erectile Function, Premature Ejaculation Severity Index, Sexual Distress Scale-Male, Sexual Satisfaction Scale-Male and Sexual Modes Questionnaire | Short Form 36, Beck Depression Inventory, State–Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y, Symptom Check List-90-Revised and Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 |
| Rezaei et al., 201844 | Islamic Republic of Iran | 380 women aged ≥ 18 years;b mean age 29.81 years (SD: 5.5) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index | Short Form 36 |
| Chang et al., 201945 | China, Taiwan | 1026 women; mean age 48.51 years (SD: 0.17; range: 40–65) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index | 12-Item Short Form Survey |
| Eleuteri et al., 201959 | Italy | 40 men; mean age 75.4 years (SD: 7.3) | Cross-sectional | International Index of Erectile Function-5 | Beck Depression Inventory, Mini Mental State Examination and Quality of Life Index |
| Jackson et al., 201980 | United Kingdom | 3217 women and 2614 men aged ≥ 50 years;e mean age 68.4 years (SD: 9.95) | Cross-sectional | Frequency of sexual activities | Satisfaction with Life Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale 8 and Control, Autonomy, Self-Realization and Pleasure–19 |
| Meira et al., 201936 | Brazil | 20 women; aged 38–60 years | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index | WHO Quality of Life Brief Version |
| Oh & Kim, 201947 | Republic of Korea | 138 women; mean age 32.62 years (SD: 4.27; range: 22–43) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index-6 item Korean version | EuroQol-5 Dimension |
| Peixoto et al., 201951 | Brazil | 36 women; mean age 55.39 years (SD: 4.68; range: 45–65) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index | Short Form 36 |
| Fagundes Ferreira et al., 202043 | Brazil | 278 women; mean age 32 years (SD: 5.60; range: 18–40) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index | Short Form 36 |
| Lu et al., 202060 | China | 1267 men; mean age 59.09 years (SD: 8.65; range: 50–70) | Cross-sectional | International Index of Erectile Function-5 and Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool | General Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Satisfaction with Life Scale and Control, Autonomy, Self-Realization and Pleasure-19 |
| Najimi et al., 202057 | Islamic Republic of Iran | 362 men; mean age 69.9 years (SD: 8.1; range: 60–100) | Cross-sectional | Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire-Male | General Health Questionnaire-28 |
| NeJhaddadgar et al., 202041 | Islamic Republic of Iran | 1245 women; mean age 75.1 years (SD: 7.2; range: 60–87) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index | General Health Questionnaire |
| Bigizadeh et al., 202134 | Islamic Republic of Iran | 318 women; mean age 20.78 years (SD: 4.23) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index | WHO Quality of Life Brief Version |
| Effati-Daryani et al., 202171 | Islamic Republic of Iran | 437 women;b mean age 29.7 years (SD: 3.3; range: 19–44) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index | Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 |
| Fasero et al., 202149 | Spain | 521 women; mean age 51.3 years (SD: 4.9; range 45–65) | Cross-sectional | Brief Profile of Female Sexual Function | Cervantes-Short Form Scale |
| Jalali et al., 202148 | Islamic Republic of Iran | 558 women; mean age 54.01 years (SD: 3.95; range: 40–60) | Cross-sectional | Sexual Self-Efficacy Scale | Menopause-Specific Quality of Life |
| Mollaioli et al., 202182 | Italy | 4 177 women and 2 644 men; mean age 32.83 years (SD: 11.24) | Cross-sectional | International Index of Erectile Function-15 and Female Sexual Function Index | General Anxiety Disorder-7 and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 |
| Soler et al., 202170 | Spain | 700 women and 516 men; mean age 21.4 years (SD: 3.42; range: 18–35) | Cross-sectional | Massachusetts General Hospital Sexual Functioning Questionnaire | Symptom Assessment-45 Questionnaire |
| Vedovo et al., 202152 | Italy | 122 women; mean age transgender women 38.5 years (SD: 9.2); cisgender women: 37.7 (SD: 11.5) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index; operated Male to Female Sexual Function Index | Beck Depression Inventor Primary Care and Short Form 36 |
| Chatterjee et al., 202254 | India | 1 108 men and 268 women aged ≥ 19 years; mean age 34.42 years (SD: 9.34) | Cross-sectional | Arizona Sexual Experiences scale | Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale and WHO Quality of Life Brief Version |
| Gil-Salmerón et al., 202281 | Spain | 220 women and 85 men aged 18–74 years | Cross-sectional | Sexual frequency | Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory |
| Khorshidi et al., 202286 | Islamic Republic of Iran | 536 women;b,c mean age 36.75 years (SD: 7.48; range: 18–59) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire and Female Sexual Distress Scale-revised and sexual frequency per month | Psychological Distress Scale |
| Oveisi et al., 202288 | Canada | 124 women ≥ 18 years, mean age 21 years (SD: 2) | cross-sectional | Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire-Female | Mental Health Continuum Short Form |
| Pollard; 202295 | USA | 1241; Aged 18–80 years; 47 nonbinary, fluid or other people, 775 women and 419 men | Cross-sectional | Quality of Sex Index-6 | Patient Health Questionnaire-9 |
| Ryu et al., 202276 | Republic of Korea | 216 men; mean age 50.09 years (SD: 6.29; range: 41–64) | Cross-sectional | International Index of Erectile Function | Beck Depression Inventory-Korean Version, Sherer's General Self-Efficacy Scale and WHO Quality of Life Brief Version |
| de Souza Júnior et al., 202258 | Brazil | 231 men aged ≥ 60 years | Cross-sectional | Male Sexual Quotient and Escala de Vivências Afetivas e Sexuais do Idoso | World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment for Older Adults |
| Bahrami et al., 202391 | Islamic Republic of Iran | 350 women; mean age 33.77 years (SD: 9.77; range: 18–63) | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire, Female Sexual Distress Scale-revised, Dyadic Sexual Communication Scale, Female Sexual Function Index and Emotional Intimacy Questionnaire | Satisfaction with Life Scale |
| Boyacıoğlu et al., 202379 | Türkiye | 169 women and 154 men aged 65 years and older | Cross-sectional | Arizona Sexual Experiences scale | General Health Questionnaire-28 and Control, Autonomy, Self-Realization and Pleasure-19 |
| Florkiewicz-Danel et al., 202383 | Poland | 65 women aged 18–45 years | Cross-sectional | Mell–Krat Questionnaire and Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women | General Health Questionnaire-28 |
| Gök et al., 202387 | Türkiye | 976 women; mean age 35.45 years (SD: 8.47; range: 18–49) | Cross-sectional | Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire | Multidimensional Scale Of Perceived Social Support and Beck Depression Inventory |
| Karakose et al., 202385 | USA | 102 couples; mean age 30.06 years (SD: 5.55; range: 21–50) | Dyadic cross-sectional | New Sexual Satisfaction Scale | Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 |
| Pasha et al., 202342 | Islamic Republic of Iran | 77 women; age not reported | Cross-sectional | Female Sexual Function Index | General Health Questionnaire |
| Tavares et al., 202390 | Portugal | 257 couples; mean age women 29.9 years (SD: 4.7); men 31.6 (SD: 4.9) | Dyadic Longitudinal | International index of erectile function; Female Sexual Function Index and Female Sexual Distress Scale-revised | Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and 7-item Anxiety Subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale |
| Cabo et al., 202462 | USA | 1033 men aged ≥ 18 years; median age 55 years (IQR: 35–67) | Cross-sectional | International Index of Erectile Function-5 and Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool | EuroQol-5 Dimension, Visual Analogue Scale and Basic Health Literacy Screen |
| Przydacz et al., 202478 | Poland | 3001 mena aged ≥ 18 years | Cross-sectional | International Index of Erectile Function-5 and Premature Ejaculation | 7-item Anxiety Subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale |
aOR: adjusted odds ratio; CI: confidence interval; IQR: interquartile range; OR: odds ratio; SD: standard deviation; SE: standard error; WHO: World Health Organization.
a stratified sampling.
b cluster sampling.
c simple random sampling.
d quota sampling.
e population-based sampling.