Abstract
During the Covid-19 pandemic, measures of quarantine, physical and social distancing impose restrictions on personal mobility and social interaction. The restrictions may result in psychological distress, mental health problems, and negative outcomes of sexual life. This study evaluated the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on sexual life and examined whether sociodemographic characteristics would moderate the effects. Methods: An online questionnaire comprising items on sexual life (e.g., sexual frequency, sexual function, sexual intimacy, etc.) and sociodemographic characteristics was designed for data collection. Data were gathered in March to August 2021 through social media by a professional research agency. A 5-point scale (1 = strongly decrease, 3 = no change, 5 = strongly increase) was adopted to gauge perceived changes in sexual life before and during the pandemic. A total of 1038 respondents (age ranged from 18 to 70, 56.1% were females) completed the online questionnaire. Results: Respondents did not perceive significant changes in sexual intimacy but reported a decrease in sexual functions, desire for pregnancy, sexual frequency, and sexual satisfaction. Unexpectedly, an increase in emotional intimacy was reported. The perceived deterioration in sexual life were more significant among respondents who were older, females, married, lower in education, lower in economic status, unemployed, and who had chronic illness. Conclusions: Several aspects of sexual life were deleteriously affected by the pandemic. To protect sexual health in a more targeted manner, sociodemographic characteristics associated with the negative impacts of the pandemic should be considered.
Author Information
Hoi Nga Ng, Sant Francis University, Hong Kong
Kam Weng Boey, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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