Sexual Health and the Pandemic Crisis

Testing the Role of Psychological Vulnerability/Protective Factors on Sexual Functioning and Sexual Distress During a Critical Life Period in Portugal

Dados Bibliográficos

ID8359523
AutoresPedro J Nobre (0000-0003-2571-6972, Universidade do Porto, autor correspondente), Pedro J Rosa (0000-0001-8432-1802, Instituto Superior Manuel Teixeira Gomes), Priscila Vasconcelos, Priscila C Vasconcelos (0000-0002-0161-0682, Universidade do Porto), Inês M Tavares (0000-0002-2614-4243, Universidade do Porto), Inês Tavares (0000-0001-6551-4625), Joana Carvalho (0000-0003-2362-0010, Universidade do Porto), Ana Quinta-Gomes, Ana Luísa Quinta-Gomes (0000-0002-6421-656X, Universidade do Porto), Catarina Moura, Catarina V Moura (0000-0002-4671-0599, Universidade do Porto), Mariana L Carrito (0000-0001-8414-5319, Universidade do Porto), Mariana Carrito
Ano2022
Volume51
Fascículo1
Páginas169-181
Data de publicação2022-01-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoArchives of Sexual Behavior (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0004-0002 • E-ISSN: 1573-2800
EditoraSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s10508-021-02209-z
PMID35028806
OpenAlexW4205342324
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas2
Referências citadas70

Recent findings suggest that the current COVID-19 pandemic has a potential negative impact in several areas of life, including sexual health. However, less is known about the psychological dimensions that may work as vulnerability/protective factors for the development of sexual problems in the current pandemic. The current study used a longitudinal design to examine the role played by personality trait factors (neuroticism, extraversion) as well as psychosexual factors (sexual beliefs) in predicting sexual functioning and sexual distress across time during the current pandemic crisis. A total of 528 individuals (337 women) completed a web survey assessing sexual health indicators and psychological factors. The first wave was conducted during the confinement period in Portugal (N = 528) between May and June 2020 and the second four months later (N = 146), when strict confinement rules were over. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to examine the ability of psychological factors to predict sexual functioning and distress across time, while controlling for age and gender. Results indicated that sexual distress at time point 2 was lower than during confinement, and men had lower levels of sexual functioning post-confinement while no significant difference was observed for women. Moreover, higher levels of neuroticism and age-related beliefs significantly predicted lower sexual functioning as well as higher sexual distress, whereas lower levels of extraversion predicted lower sexual functioning after controlling for age and gender effects. Findings support the role of psychological vulnerability factors to predict sexual problems across time and may have important implications in the prevention and treatment of sexual dysfunctions

Big Five personality traits · Developmental psychology · Distress · Extraversion and introversion · Neuroticism · Personality · Psychosexual development · Sexual orientation · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Clinical Psychology · Psychology · Sexual function and dysfunction studies · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology · Social Psychology