The Impact of COVID-19 on Sexual Health: A Preliminary Framework Based on a Qualitative Study With Clinical Sexologists
Introduction: In recent months, some attempts were made to understand the impact of COVID-19 on sexual health. Despite recent research that suggests COVID-19 and lockdown measures may eventually impact sexual response and sexually related behaviors, we are missing clinical sexologists’ perspectives...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Oxford University Press
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Sexual Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2050116120301860 |
| _version_ | 1797721738381885440 |
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| author | Patrícia M. Pascoal, PhD Joana Carvalho, PhD Catarina F. Raposo, MSc Joana Almeida, MSc Ana Filipa Beato, PhD |
| author_facet | Patrícia M. Pascoal, PhD Joana Carvalho, PhD Catarina F. Raposo, MSc Joana Almeida, MSc Ana Filipa Beato, PhD |
| author_sort | Patrícia M. Pascoal, PhD |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: In recent months, some attempts were made to understand the impact of COVID-19 on sexual health. Despite recent research that suggests COVID-19 and lockdown measures may eventually impact sexual response and sexually related behaviors, we are missing clinical sexologists’ perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 in sexual health. Such perspectives could inform a preliminary framework aimed at guiding future research and clinical approaches in the context of COVID-19. Aim: To explore the perspectives of clinical sexologists about the impact of COVID-19 on their patients’ sexual health, as well as the professional challenges they have faced during the current pandemic. Findings are expected to inform a preliminary framework aimed at understanding the impact of COVID-19 on sexual health. Methods: We conducted an online qualitative exploratory survey with 4 open-ended questions with 39 clinical sexologists aged between 32 and 73 years old. The survey was advertised among professional associations’ newsletters. We performed a Thematic Analysis using an inductive, semantic, and (critical) realist approach, leading to a final thematic map. Main Outcome Measures: The outcome is the thematic map and the corresponding table that aggregates the main themes, subthemes, and codes derived from participants’ answers and that can serve as a preliminary framework to understand the impact of COVID-19 on sexual health. Results: The final thematic map, expected to serve as a preliminary framework on the impact of COVID-19 in sexual health, revealed 3 main themes: Clinical Focus, Remapping Relationships, and Reframing Technology Use. These themes aggregate important interrelated issues, such as worsening of sexual problems and dysfunctions, mental health, relationship management, the rise of conservatism, and the use of new technology that influences sexuality and sexual health-related services. Conclusion: The current study allowed us to develop a preliminary framework to understand the impact of COVID-19 on sexual health. This framework highlights the role of mental health, as well as the contextual nature of sexual problems, and subsequently, their relational nature. Also, it demonstrates that the current pandemic has brought into light the debate of e-Health delivery within clinical sexology.Pascoal PM, Carvalho J, Raposo CF, et al. The Impact of COVID-19 on Sexual Health: A Preliminary Framework Based on a Qualitative Study With Clinical Sexologist. Sex Med 2021;9:100299. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:37:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e6ed88c539a6463581f6328f74c12b67 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-1161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:37:39Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sexual Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-e6ed88c539a6463581f6328f74c12b672023-09-02T13:31:59ZengOxford University PressSexual Medicine2050-11612021-02-0191100299The Impact of COVID-19 on Sexual Health: A Preliminary Framework Based on a Qualitative Study With Clinical SexologistsPatrícia M. Pascoal, PhD0Joana Carvalho, PhD1Catarina F. Raposo, MSc2Joana Almeida, MSc3Ana Filipa Beato, PhD4CICPSI, Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Alameda da Universidade, Lisboa, Portugal; Sociedade Portuguesa de Sexologia Clínica, Lisboa, Portugal; Universidade Lusófona, HEI-Lab, Lisboa, Portugal; CPUP, Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Corresponding Author: Patrícia M. Pascoal, Alameda da Universidade, 1649-013 Lisboa, Portugal. Tel: +351 217 943 655CPUP, Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação, Universidade do Porto, Porto, PortugalCPUP, Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação, Universidade do Porto, Porto, PortugalSociedade Portuguesa de Sexologia Clínica, Lisboa, PortugalSociedade Portuguesa de Sexologia Clínica, Lisboa, Portugal; Universidade Lusófona, HEI-Lab, Lisboa, PortugalIntroduction: In recent months, some attempts were made to understand the impact of COVID-19 on sexual health. Despite recent research that suggests COVID-19 and lockdown measures may eventually impact sexual response and sexually related behaviors, we are missing clinical sexologists’ perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 in sexual health. Such perspectives could inform a preliminary framework aimed at guiding future research and clinical approaches in the context of COVID-19. Aim: To explore the perspectives of clinical sexologists about the impact of COVID-19 on their patients’ sexual health, as well as the professional challenges they have faced during the current pandemic. Findings are expected to inform a preliminary framework aimed at understanding the impact of COVID-19 on sexual health. Methods: We conducted an online qualitative exploratory survey with 4 open-ended questions with 39 clinical sexologists aged between 32 and 73 years old. The survey was advertised among professional associations’ newsletters. We performed a Thematic Analysis using an inductive, semantic, and (critical) realist approach, leading to a final thematic map. Main Outcome Measures: The outcome is the thematic map and the corresponding table that aggregates the main themes, subthemes, and codes derived from participants’ answers and that can serve as a preliminary framework to understand the impact of COVID-19 on sexual health. Results: The final thematic map, expected to serve as a preliminary framework on the impact of COVID-19 in sexual health, revealed 3 main themes: Clinical Focus, Remapping Relationships, and Reframing Technology Use. These themes aggregate important interrelated issues, such as worsening of sexual problems and dysfunctions, mental health, relationship management, the rise of conservatism, and the use of new technology that influences sexuality and sexual health-related services. Conclusion: The current study allowed us to develop a preliminary framework to understand the impact of COVID-19 on sexual health. This framework highlights the role of mental health, as well as the contextual nature of sexual problems, and subsequently, their relational nature. Also, it demonstrates that the current pandemic has brought into light the debate of e-Health delivery within clinical sexology.Pascoal PM, Carvalho J, Raposo CF, et al. The Impact of COVID-19 on Sexual Health: A Preliminary Framework Based on a Qualitative Study With Clinical Sexologist. Sex Med 2021;9:100299.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2050116120301860Sexual HealthSexual DysfunctionsSexual BehaviorCOVID-19Mental Health |
| spellingShingle | Patrícia M. Pascoal, PhD Joana Carvalho, PhD Catarina F. Raposo, MSc Joana Almeida, MSc Ana Filipa Beato, PhD The Impact of COVID-19 on Sexual Health: A Preliminary Framework Based on a Qualitative Study With Clinical Sexologists Sexual Medicine Sexual Health Sexual Dysfunctions Sexual Behavior COVID-19 Mental Health |
| title | The Impact of COVID-19 on Sexual Health: A Preliminary Framework Based on a Qualitative Study With Clinical Sexologists |
| title_full | The Impact of COVID-19 on Sexual Health: A Preliminary Framework Based on a Qualitative Study With Clinical Sexologists |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of COVID-19 on Sexual Health: A Preliminary Framework Based on a Qualitative Study With Clinical Sexologists |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of COVID-19 on Sexual Health: A Preliminary Framework Based on a Qualitative Study With Clinical Sexologists |
| title_short | The Impact of COVID-19 on Sexual Health: A Preliminary Framework Based on a Qualitative Study With Clinical Sexologists |
| title_sort | impact of covid 19 on sexual health a preliminary framework based on a qualitative study with clinical sexologists |
| topic | Sexual Health Sexual Dysfunctions Sexual Behavior COVID-19 Mental Health |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2050116120301860 |
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