Perceived Changes in Sexuality during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Adults in the United States
In the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic has decreased partnered sexual behavior and increased the use of enhancement (e.g., toys). This has been partly attributed to reduced social interactions and stress. However, individuals’ perceptions of changes are missing in research. This study aims to e...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Sexes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5118/2/3/26 |
| _version_ | 1797517182740987904 |
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| author | Jessamyn Bowling Erika Montanaro Sarai Guerrero-Ordonez Stuti Joshi Diana Gioia |
| author_facet | Jessamyn Bowling Erika Montanaro Sarai Guerrero-Ordonez Stuti Joshi Diana Gioia |
| author_sort | Jessamyn Bowling |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic has decreased partnered sexual behavior and increased the use of enhancement (e.g., toys). This has been partly attributed to reduced social interactions and stress. However, individuals’ perceptions of changes are missing in research. This study aims to examine how adults perceive changes in their sexuality during the pandemic. We conducted a nationwide survey of US adults from April–June 2020 (<i>N</i> = 326). This qualitative study examines the open-ended responses using thematic analyses. The following themes emerged from the data: (1) changes in the purpose of sex; (2) changes in sexual identity; (3) decreases in sex drive and desire; (4) increases in sex drive and desire; (5) fluctuations in sex drive and desire; (6) increased sexual experimentation and reflection. The stress, changes in home responsibilities and living situations, and time spent with partners (more or less) has affected individuals by increasing or decreasing their sex drive and desire. Participants responded to changes with self-reflection and awareness, and incorporating new practices (e.g., technology, kink). The purpose of sex has shifted in order to gain intimacy or connect, or to pass time. These changes were perceived as both positive and negative, and more research is needed to determine the durability of these changes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:13:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1423f360e7064b6fb09961aa6da93233 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2411-5118 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:13:11Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sexes |
| spelling | doaj.art-1423f360e7064b6fb09961aa6da932332023-11-22T15:15:44ZengMDPI AGSexes2411-51182021-07-012333134410.3390/sexes2030026Perceived Changes in Sexuality during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Adults in the United StatesJessamyn Bowling0Erika Montanaro1Sarai Guerrero-Ordonez2Stuti Joshi3Diana Gioia4Department of Public Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USADepartment of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USADepartment of Public Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USADepartment of Public Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USADepartment of Public Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USAIn the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic has decreased partnered sexual behavior and increased the use of enhancement (e.g., toys). This has been partly attributed to reduced social interactions and stress. However, individuals’ perceptions of changes are missing in research. This study aims to examine how adults perceive changes in their sexuality during the pandemic. We conducted a nationwide survey of US adults from April–June 2020 (<i>N</i> = 326). This qualitative study examines the open-ended responses using thematic analyses. The following themes emerged from the data: (1) changes in the purpose of sex; (2) changes in sexual identity; (3) decreases in sex drive and desire; (4) increases in sex drive and desire; (5) fluctuations in sex drive and desire; (6) increased sexual experimentation and reflection. The stress, changes in home responsibilities and living situations, and time spent with partners (more or less) has affected individuals by increasing or decreasing their sex drive and desire. Participants responded to changes with self-reflection and awareness, and incorporating new practices (e.g., technology, kink). The purpose of sex has shifted in order to gain intimacy or connect, or to pass time. These changes were perceived as both positive and negative, and more research is needed to determine the durability of these changes.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5118/2/3/26COVID-19pandemicsex drivepurpose of sexsexual identity |
| spellingShingle | Jessamyn Bowling Erika Montanaro Sarai Guerrero-Ordonez Stuti Joshi Diana Gioia Perceived Changes in Sexuality during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Adults in the United States Sexes COVID-19 pandemic sex drive purpose of sex sexual identity |
| title | Perceived Changes in Sexuality during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Adults in the United States |
| title_full | Perceived Changes in Sexuality during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Adults in the United States |
| title_fullStr | Perceived Changes in Sexuality during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Adults in the United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceived Changes in Sexuality during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Adults in the United States |
| title_short | Perceived Changes in Sexuality during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Adults in the United States |
| title_sort | perceived changes in sexuality during the covid 19 pandemic among adults in the united states |
| topic | COVID-19 pandemic sex drive purpose of sex sexual identity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5118/2/3/26 |
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