Impact of Covid-19 Confinement on Sexual Life in Colombian Adults
Keywords:
sexual desire, sexual behavior, sexual practices, Covid-19, confinement.Abstract
Introduction: Sexuality is fundamental for the quality of life and well-being of people. However during the Covid-19 pandemic, a mandatory confinement was established that could generate changes in its functioning.
Objective: Determine the impact of Covid-19 confinement on the sexual life of people in Colombia, specifically on sexual desire (SD), sexual behavior (SB) and sexual practices (SP), as well as their frequency (SPF) and importance (SPI).
Methods: Cross-sectional, non-experimental quantitative study, with descriptive, correlational and explanatory purposes. Sampling was by convenience and the sample was made up of 122 adults (64 % women), mainly young, single and heterosexual adults, who answered a virtual, anonymous survey during the mandatory confinement.
Results: It was found that SD increased, but SB decreased, and was explained in 27.8 % by SD. SPF and SPI decreased, although the only SP that increased were related to technology. It was identified that only SPF could be explained by SB (51 %) and SPI (21 %). Some sexual difficulties were reported (49.1 %), and 28 % of them were related to mental health.
Conclusions: Participants’ sexual life had unfavorable changes during confinement. For this reason, governments could consider strategies to mitigate impacts on sexual well-being during population confinements.Downloads
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References
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25. Wignall L, Portch E, McCormack M, Owens R, Cascalheira CJ, Attard-Johnson J, Cole T. Changes in sexual desire and behaviors among UK young adults during social lockdown due to COVID-19. J Sex Res. 2021; 58(8):976-985. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2021.1897067
26. Lehmiller J, Garcia J, Gesselman A, Mark K. Less Sex, but More Sexual Diversity: Changes in Sexual Behavior during the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic. Leis Sci. 2021; 43(1-2):295-304. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2020.1774016
27. Feng YJ, Fan YJ, Su ZZ, Li BB, Li B, Liu N, Wang PX. Correlation of sexual behavior change, family function, and male-female intimacy among adults aged 18-44 years during COVID-19 epidemic. J Sex Med. 2021; 9(1):100301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2020.100301
28. Luetke M, Hensel D, Herbenick D, Rosenberg M. Romantic relationship conflict due to the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in intimate and sexual behaviors in a nationally representative sample of American adults. J Sex Marital Ther. 2020; 46(8):747-762. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2020.1810185
29. Jones H, Yoon D, Theiss J, Austin J, Lee L. Assessing the effects of COVID-19 on romantic relationships and the coping strategies partners use to manage the stress of a pandemic. J Fam Commun. 2021; 21(3):152-166. https://doi.org/10.1080/15267431.2021.1927040
30. Schmid L, Wörn J, Hank K, Sawatzki B, Walper S. Changes in employment and relationship satisfaction in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from the German family Panel. Eur Societies. 2021; 23(sup1):S743-S758. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616696.2020.1836385
31. Mitchell K, Shimonovich M, Bosó R, Dema E, Clifton S, Riddell J, Copas A, Tanton C, Macdowall W, Bonell C, Sonnenberg P, Mercer C, Field N. Initial impacts of COVID-19 on sex life and relationship quality in steady relationships in Britain: Findings from a large, quasi-representative survey (Natsal-COVID). J Sex Res. 2023; 60(1):1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2022.2035663
32. Bowling J, Montanaro E, Gattuso J, Gioia D, Guerrero-Ordonez S. “Everything feels risky now”: Perceived “risky” sexual behavior during COVID-19 pandemic. J Health Psychol. 2022; 27(6):1498-1506. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053211004684
2. Malary M, Khani S, Pourasghar M, Moosazadeh M, Hamzehgardeshi Z. Biopsychosocial determinants of hypoactive sexual desire in women: a narrative review. Mater Sociomed. 2015; 27(6):383-389. PMID: 26889096; PMCID: PMC4733555.
3. Marieke D, Joana C, Giovanni C, Erika L, Pascoal P, Yacov R, Aleksandar Š. Sexual desire discrepancy: A position statement of the European Society for Sexual Medicine. J Sex Med. 2020; 8(2):121-131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2020.02.008
4. Mark K, Lasslo J. Maintaining sexual desire in long-term relationships: A systematic review and conceptual model. J Sex Res. 2018; 55(4-5):563-581. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2018.1437592
5. McCall K, Meston C. Differences between pre-and postmenopausal women in cues for sexual desire. J Sex Med. 2007; 4(2):364-371. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2006.00421.x
6. Chadwick S, Burke S, Goldey K, Bell S, van Anders S. Sexual desire in sexual minority and majority women and men: The multifaceted sexual desire questionnaire. Arch Sex Behav. 2017; 46:2465-2484. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-016-0895-z
7. Dewitte M, Mayer A. Exploring the link between daily relationship quality, sexual desire, and sexual activity in couples. Arch Sex Behav. 2018; 47(6):1675-1686. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-018-1175-x
8. Moyano N, Vallejo-Medina P, Sierra J. Sexual desire inventory: two or three dimensions?. J Sex Res. 2017; 54(1):105-116. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2015.1109581
9. Mark K, Leistner C, Dai M. Daily sexual desire and its impact on next-day desire and behavior in mixed sex couples. Arch Sex Behav. 2019; 48:795-801. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-018-1320-6
10. Sewell K, McGarrity L, Strassberg D. Sexual behavior, definitions of sex, and the role of self-partner context among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults. J Sex Res. 2017; 54(7):825-831. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2016.1249331
11. Horowitz A, Spicer L. “Having sex” as a graded and hierarchical construct: A comparison of sexual definitions among heterosexual and lesbian emerging adults in the UK. J Sex Res. 2013; 50(2):139-150. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2011.635322
12. Sewell K, Strassberg D. How do heterosexual undergraduate students define having sex? A new approach to an old question. J Sex Res. 2015; 52(5):507-516. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2014.888389
13. Chawla N, Sarkar S. Defining “high-risk sexual behavior” in the context of substance use. J Psychosexual Health. 2019; 1(1):26-31. https://doi.org/10.1177/2631831818822015
14. Fu TC, Herbenick D, Dodge B, Owens C, Sanders S, Reece M, Fortenberry JD. Relationships among sexual identity, sexual attraction, and sexual behavior: Results from a nationally representative probability sample of adults in the United States. Arch Sex Behav. 2019; 48:1483-1493. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-018-1319-z
15. Griffin KR, Way BM, Kraus SW. Controversies and clinical recommendations for the treatment of compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Curr Addict Rep. 2021; 8:546-555. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-021-00393-5
16. Gräf D, Mesenburg M, Fassa A. Risky sexual behavior and associated factors in undergraduate students in a city in Southern Brazil. Rev Saude Publica. 2020; 54(41). https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2020054001709
17. Hammett JF, Davis KC. Greater Perceptions of Economic Deprivation in Childhood Are Associated With More Sexual Risk Behaviors in Adulthood via Younger Age of Sexual Initiation. J Psychosexual Health. 2022; 4(3):185-188. https://doi.org/10.1177/26318318221102375
18. Meston C, Stanton A. Recent findings on women’s motives for engaging in sexual activity. Curr Sex Health Rep. 2017; 9:128-135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-017-0114-5
19. Phillips T, Constantinou H, Fairley C, Bradshaw C, Maddaford K, Chen M, Hocking J, Chow E. Oral, vaginal and anal sexual practices among heterosexual males and females attending a sexual health clinic: a cross-sectional survey in Melbourne, Australia. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(23):12668. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312668
20. Wu TL, Ting TT, Chen CY, Su LW, Chen WJ. Early sexual initiation and risky sexual practices among alcohol-and tobacco-using young adults in Taiwan: mediation analysis of preceding-sex use of illicit drugs. BMC Public Health. 2020; 20(1):1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09777-0
21. Bothe B, Vaillancourt-Morel MP, Girouard A, Štulhofer A, Dion J, Bergeron S. A large-scale comparison of Canadian sexual/gender minority and heterosexual, cisgender adolescents’ pornography use characteristics. J Sex Med. 2020; 17(6):1156-1167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.02.009
22. Beckmeyer JJ. Sexting and the Dynamics of Emerging Adults’ Romantic Partnerships. Sex Cult. 2023; 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-023-10125-8
23. Malhi G, Bell E. Questions in Psychiatry (QuiP): Sexual behaviours and practices. Bipolar Disord. 2022; 24(3):326-329. https://doi.org/10.1111/bdi.13227
24. Calabrò R, Cacciola A, Bruschetta D, Milardi D, Quattrini F, Sciarrone F, la Rosa G, Bramanti P, Anastasi G. Neuroanatomy and function of human sexual behavior: A neglected or unknown issue?. Brain Behav. 2019; 9(12):e01389. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1389
25. Wignall L, Portch E, McCormack M, Owens R, Cascalheira CJ, Attard-Johnson J, Cole T. Changes in sexual desire and behaviors among UK young adults during social lockdown due to COVID-19. J Sex Res. 2021; 58(8):976-985. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2021.1897067
26. Lehmiller J, Garcia J, Gesselman A, Mark K. Less Sex, but More Sexual Diversity: Changes in Sexual Behavior during the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic. Leis Sci. 2021; 43(1-2):295-304. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2020.1774016
27. Feng YJ, Fan YJ, Su ZZ, Li BB, Li B, Liu N, Wang PX. Correlation of sexual behavior change, family function, and male-female intimacy among adults aged 18-44 years during COVID-19 epidemic. J Sex Med. 2021; 9(1):100301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2020.100301
28. Luetke M, Hensel D, Herbenick D, Rosenberg M. Romantic relationship conflict due to the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in intimate and sexual behaviors in a nationally representative sample of American adults. J Sex Marital Ther. 2020; 46(8):747-762. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2020.1810185
29. Jones H, Yoon D, Theiss J, Austin J, Lee L. Assessing the effects of COVID-19 on romantic relationships and the coping strategies partners use to manage the stress of a pandemic. J Fam Commun. 2021; 21(3):152-166. https://doi.org/10.1080/15267431.2021.1927040
30. Schmid L, Wörn J, Hank K, Sawatzki B, Walper S. Changes in employment and relationship satisfaction in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from the German family Panel. Eur Societies. 2021; 23(sup1):S743-S758. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616696.2020.1836385
31. Mitchell K, Shimonovich M, Bosó R, Dema E, Clifton S, Riddell J, Copas A, Tanton C, Macdowall W, Bonell C, Sonnenberg P, Mercer C, Field N. Initial impacts of COVID-19 on sex life and relationship quality in steady relationships in Britain: Findings from a large, quasi-representative survey (Natsal-COVID). J Sex Res. 2023; 60(1):1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2022.2035663
32. Bowling J, Montanaro E, Gattuso J, Gioia D, Guerrero-Ordonez S. “Everything feels risky now”: Perceived “risky” sexual behavior during COVID-19 pandemic. J Health Psychol. 2022; 27(6):1498-1506. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053211004684
Published
2024-04-07
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Lozano-Plazas JE, Quito-Sánchez V. Impact of Covid-19 Confinement on Sexual Life in Colombian Adults. Rev. Hosp. Psiq. Hab. [Internet]. 2024 Apr. 7 [cited 2025 Oct. 27];21(1). Available from: https://revhph.sld.cu/index.php/hph/article/view/467
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Comunicación breve
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