Compulsive Sexual Behavior and Changes in Solitary Sexual Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The aim of with this brief report is to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic differentially impacted solitary sexual behaviors in those with and without clinically significant compulsive sexual behavior (CSB). A total of 944 individuals in the United States completed an online cross-sectional survey in October 2020. Participants were asked to retrospectively report their frequency of masturbation and pornography use during the pandemic and prior to the pandemic. Participants also completed assessments of CSB, depression symptoms, and experiences of financial stress caused by the pandemic. Individuals who screened positive for clinically significant CSB reported statistically significant increases in masturbation and pornography use during the pandemic. Those who screened negative for CSB reported no significant increase in masturbation and a very small, statistically significant increase in pornography use. Those screening positive for CSB also reported significantly higher levels of depression symptoms but did not report increased likelihood of experiencing financial distress due to the pandemic. This suggests that increases in masturbation and pornography use reported by some, but not all, recent studies on sexual behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic may be driven by individuals with CSB. Future research on sexual behaviors during the pandemic should assess CSB to further clarify its relationship with sexual behavior changes.

The Role of Mutual Masturbation within Relationships: Associations with Sexual Satisfaction and Sexual Self-Esteem

“…Data collection for the current study lasted one year (2021) and largely occurred while COVID-19 restrictions were in place in most countries (e.g., U.K., U.S., Spain). It is important to acknowledge changes in solitary sexual behaviors related to the global COVID pandemic (Gleason et al., 2023 ). Although we did not ask about the prevalence of solo/mutual masturbation before COVID-19 restrictions, in our study, similar to pre-COVID surveys, recent solo masturbation was more common than recent mutual masturbation.…”