Changes in Intimacy and Sexuality During the Covid-19 Pandemic

A Qualitative Analysis of Data from a Survey on Partnered Individuals in Eight European Countries

Bibliographic Data

ID12466249
AuthorsLotta Löfgren-Mårtenson (0000-0002-0297-0591, Malmö University, corresponding author), Eva Elmerstig (0000-0003-2255-6547, Malmö University), Johanna Schröder (0000-0002-0751-4720, Universität Hamburg), Marie Chollier (0000-0002-1475-9769, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille), Jasmina Mehulić (University of Zagreb), Hanneke de Graaf (0000-0002-2350-0230, Rutgers Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights), Katerina Klapilova (0000-0002-2972-0111, National Institute of Mental Health), Inês M Tavares (0000-0002-2614-4243, Universidade do Porto), Inês Tavares (0000-0001-6551-4625), Peer Briken (0000-0002-1360-014X, Universität Hamburg), Ozlem Kose (0000-0002-9821-5901), Pedro J Nobre (0000-0003-2571-6972, Universidade do Porto), Aleksandar Štulhofer (0000-0001-5138-3644, University of Zagreb)
Year2022
Volume27
Issue2
Pages693-714
Publication date2022-10-27
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSexuality & Culture (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1095-5143 • E-ISSN: 1936-4822
PublisherSpringer Science+Business Media (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1007/s12119-022-10035-1
PMID36320864
OpenAlexW4307414311
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited35

This qualitative study explores experiences of intimacy and sexuality during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic of 3357 participants from Croatia, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, and Turkey. Data were collected through open-ended questions within a survey on sexuality during the pandemic. Based on a reflexive thematic analysis three themes occurred. The first theme No change was described by 41% when summarizing their sex life during the pandemic. The second theme Positive change was experienced by 25%, and the third theme Negative change by 21%. An overarching theme then emerged as: "Still the same trajectories, but the pandemic could be a catalyst for improved or worsened sex- life." For those intimate partnered individuals who already had problems with intimacy and sexuality before the COVID-19 pandemic it seemed to remain the same or deteriorated throughout the pandemic. For those with positive experiences of intimacy and sexuality before the COVID-19 pandemic it remained the same or improved throughout the pandemic. These findings are relevant for researchers and clinicians in developing preventive and supportive interventions in the context of crisis and social isolation

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Human sexuality · Pandemic · Political science · Qualitative property · Qualitative research · Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 · Social science · Sociology · Survey data collection · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Computer Science · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Gender Studies · Medicine · Psychology · Work-Family Balance Challenges · Virology

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