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Nimbi FM, Cavagnis S, Eleuteri S. Changes in Sexual Behavior and Satisfaction and Violent Behavior during COVID-19 Lockdown: Explorative Results from the Italian Cross-Sectional Study of the I-SHARE Multi-Country Project. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:96. [PMID: 38248559 PMCID: PMC10815040 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21010096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has had effects on sexual and reproductive health and intimate partner violence (IPV). This study aims to describe changes in sexual health and IPV in the Italian population both during and after the lockdowns. METHODS This cross-sectional online study was conducted, as part of the I-SHARE multicountry project, between June 2020 and January 2021. Recruitment was carried out through convenience sampling; a total of 329 participants were included in the analysis. A generalized linear model was used to analyze the difference in sexual health and IPV variables before, during, and after the lockdown. RESULTS Fifty-three percent of the participants reported having sexual problems during the first wave of the pandemic. Sexual satisfaction decreased during the first wave, and then, returned to the pre-lockdown level. While during the lockdown, some activities were reduced (such as kissing, cuddling, and sexual activities with a steady partner), for other activities, no difference was reported (such as masturbation, sexual activities with casual partners, or sexting). Few participants reported having issues accessing HIV testing and contraception. There was no difference in terms of physical and sexual violence, while there was a significant decrease in feeling vulnerable to sexual or physical assault during the first wave. CONCLUSIONS The first wave of the pandemic has had significant effects on sexual health. This should be taken into consideration when preparing for future epidemics and health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Maria Nimbi
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Sara Cavagnis
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Eleuteri
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
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Hensel DJ, Mark KP, Abdelhamed A, Burns S, Esho T, Hendriks J, Jobim Fischer V, Ivanova O, Marks M, Michelsen K, Nimby F, Strizzi J, Tucker J, Uhlich M, Erausquin JT. Changes in Solo and Partnered Sexual Behaviors following the First COVID-19 Wave: Data from an International Study of 26 Countries. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SEXUAL HEALTH : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE WORLD ASSOCIATION FOR SEXUAL HEALTH 2023; 35:459-480. [PMID: 38601728 PMCID: PMC10903556 DOI: 10.1080/19317611.2023.2224777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Objective To determine individual- and country-level factors associated with self-reported changes in solo and partnered sexual behaviors in an international sample of adults during COVID-19. Methods Data were from the International Sexual Health And REproductive Health during COVID-19 study (I-SHARE)-a cross-sectional, multi-country study (N = 26 countries) assessing adult (N = 19,654) sexual/reproductive health before and during the first wave of COVID-19. We examined self-reported changes (three-point scale: decreased, no change, increased) in solo masturbation, hugging/holding hands/cuddling with a partner, sex with a primary partner, sex with a casual partner, sexting with a partner, viewing sexually explicit media and partnered cybersex. Ordinal regression assessed the impact of individual (age, gender- and sexual-identity, romantic partnership status, employment and income stability, household change and content, mental well-being, changes in alcohol use, and changes in marijuana use) and country-level (e.g., Oxford Stringency Index, Human Development Index, and the Palma Ratio) factors on behavior change. Results The most common behavior to increase was hugging, kissing, or cuddling with a partner (21.5%), and the most common behavior to decrease was sex with a main partner (36.7%). Household factors like job/income instability and having children over the age of 12 years were significantly associated with decreased affectionate and sexual partnered sexual behaviors; more frequent substance use was linked to significantly increased solo, partnered, and virtual sexual behaviors. Conclusions Understanding changes in sexual behaviors-as well as the factors that make changes more or less likely among adults around the world-are important to ensure adequate sexual health support development for future public health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon J. Hensel
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Sociology, Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Kristen P. Mark
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Amr Abdelhamed
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt
| | - Sharyn Burns
- Discipline of Health Promotion & Sexology, Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | | | - Jacqueline Hendriks
- Discipline of Health Promotion & Sexology, Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Vinicius Jobim Fischer
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Olena Ivanova
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Marks
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Kristien Michelsen
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Fillipo Nimby
- Foundation for Professional Development, Rome, Italy
| | - Jenna Strizzi
- Centre for Medical Science and Technology Studies, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Joe Tucker
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Trent M, Perin J, Yusuf H, Agwu A, Barfield A, Spatafore L, Coleman JS, Matson P. Understanding Perceived Risks and Sexual Behavior Among Adolescents and Young Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Adolesc Health 2023; 72:815-818. [PMID: 36669959 PMCID: PMC9847213 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.11.249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We sought to describe the relationship between COVID-19 risk perception and sexual behaviors among urban adolescents and young adults (AYA). METHODS Data were collected from 159 urban AYAs on COVID-19 risk perception, COVID-19 infections and deaths, romantic relationships, and sexual behavior during the stay-at-home order using a telephone survey. RESULTS Seventy-nine percent of the study participants engaged in sexual intercourse during the stay-at-home order. Only 38% of these used condoms during their last sexual encounter. Experiencing COVID-19 positivity within their social circle was not related to COVID-19 testing. Concern for COVID-19 infection or experiencing a COVID-19 diagnosis or death in one's social circles was not associated with sexual intercourse or condom use. DISCUSSION Urban AYA remained at risk for sexually transmitted infections, and COVID-19, given high baseline community rates of sexually transmitted infections and COVID-19, low condom use, and low COVID-19 risk perception at the time of the survey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Trent
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
| | - Jamie Perin
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Hasiya Yusuf
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Allison Agwu
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ashle Barfield
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Leah Spatafore
- Department of Pediatrics, Navajo Area - Indian Health Service, St. Michael, Arizona
| | - Jenell S Coleman
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Pamela Matson
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Löfgren C, Elmerstig E, Schröder J, Chollier M, Mehulić J, de Graaf H, Klapilova K, Tavares I, Briken P, Köse Ö, Nobre P, Štulhofer A. 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. SEXUALITY & CULTURE 2022; 27:693-714. [PMID: 36320864 PMCID: PMC9612596 DOI: 10.1007/s12119-022-10035-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eva Elmerstig
- Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
- Centre for Sexology and Sexuality Studies, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Johanna Schröder
- Institute for Sex Research, Sexual Medicine, and Forensic Psychiatry, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Jasmina Mehulić
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Hanneke de Graaf
- Rutgers, Dutch Centre of Expertise on Sexuality, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Inês Tavares
- Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Center for Psychology at the University of Porto, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Peer Briken
- Institute for Sex Research, Sexual Medicine, and Forensic Psychiatry, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Özlem Köse
- Independent Relationship and Sex Researcher in Private Practice, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Pedro Nobre
- Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Center for Psychology at the University of Porto, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Aleksandar Štulhofer
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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