Influence of psychosocial factors on aging in women: an integrative review

Abstract

The objective of this work was to identify scientific evidence concerning aging in women that takes psychosocial factors into consideration. An integrative literature review was performed using the SciELO and LILACS databases. National studies published in Portuguese during the period 2016-2020 were included, using the descriptors “Aging”, “Women”, “Psychosocial Impact”, and “Social Condition”, with the Boolean operator “AND”. The tool used was adapted from the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The final sample was composed of nine articles, with the majority being qualitative studies. The main psychosocial factors identified were associated with the sexuality of elderly women. Other less common factors were those that emerged as facilitators or barriers for functional independence and the practice of physical activity. The review highlighted the importance of psychosocial factors in determining positive or negative life experience, especially in relation to sexuality. The findings suggested that the influence of psychosocial factors should be taken into greater consideration by health professionals whose aim is to deliver quality care to this population, aiming at achieving the concept of integrated health.