Perceived Changes in Sexual Interest and Distress About Discrepant Sexual Interest During the First Phase of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multi-Country Assessment in Cohabiting Partnered Individuals

Abstract

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, different restrictive measures in terms of physical distancing and lockdowns have been introduced in most European countries, affecting all facets of social life. Currently, little is known about how partnered individuals perceive changes in their sexual life during this complex emergency. This study explored retrospectively assessed changes in sexual interest for one’s partner and levels of distress related to perceived sexual interest discrepancy during the first phase of the pandemic in a large-scale online sample of partnered individuals ( n = 4813; M age = 38.5 years, SD = 10.74) recruited between May and July 2020 in seven European Union countries and Turkey. We also examined the possible role of approach/avoidance motives for sex in reported changes in sexual interest and associated distress. Most participants (53%) reported no change in their sexual interest during the pandemic, followed by those who reported an increase (28.5%). The pattern was similar across the eight countries. Distress about discrepant sexual interest, which was only weakly related to changes in sexual interest, was significantly associated with relationship quality and emotional closeness with a partner, coping with and worrying about the pandemic, and specific motivation for sex. In contrast to avoidant and relationship-focused approach motivation, ego-focused approach motivation was related to stable sexual interest during the pandemic. The current study contributes to the understanding of the link between sexual interest and complex emergencies. Considering that the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the reported experiences and perceptions are prone to change.

Is There a Direct Link between Sexual Satisfaction and Restrictions during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic?

“…It is also important to note that some other studies reported positive changes in sexual behavior [38][39][40][41][42][43] and higher assessment of sexual satisfaction [42,44] during the COVID-19 pandemic. Arafat et al [38] found that 45% of the respondents from three Asian countries (Bangladesh, India and Nepal) reported that the lockdown impacted their sexual life.…”

“…A decrease in sexual satisfaction was reported during the pandemic (when compared to pre-pandemic time) among healthcare professionals from Brasil [17], adults from Egypt [24], France [25], Germany [28], Kenya [37], and Singapore [33]; among patients with infertility from China [19]; and among women from Poland [31], Italy [30], and the USA [35]. By contrast, in comparison to the period before the pandemic, the frequency of sexual activity increased during the lockdown in Bangladesh, India, Nepal [38], China [39], Singapore [40], in seven countries of the European Union (the Czech Republic, Croatia, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, France and Sweden) and Turkey [41], in a nationwide sample of men from Germany [42], and in a large convenience sample of men from the United States of America [43]. Self-reported sexual satisfaction did not change between waves of the COVID-19 pandemic among adults from Canada [18] and China [39].…”

The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Assessment of Sexual Life—Repeated Cross-Sectional Surveys among Polish Adults in 2017, 2020 and 2021

“…There are also a few very unique longitudinal studies [ 5 , 32 ]. International projects, the results of which are just beginning to be announced, have to be considered a valuable initiative [ 23 , 35 ]. Our analyses based on 6440 records, in total across three waves, provided an opportunity to address the pre-pandemic period while also showing trends in the months ahead.…”

“…A significant number of the above components of sexual life were analyzed in relation to the pandemic period [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. The contributions came from various countries, including Poland [ 19 , 25 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ], sometimes based on multi-country projects [ 8 , 23 , 35 ].…”

Guest Editors’ Introduction to the Special Section on the Impact of COVID-19 on Sexual Health and Behaviors

“…They also found that the more satisfied a couple is, the more likely they engaged in a collaborative approach to prevention, emphasizing the importance of relationships in prevention of COVID-19 spread. Štulhofer et al ( 2022 ) found that a little over half of participants reported no change in their sexual interest during the pandemic and this was similar across seven European Union countries and Turkey. Additionally, this study found that distress around desire discrepancy between partners was associated with coping with and worrying about the pandemic, relationship quality and emotional closeness, and motivation for sex.…”