Modifications of Sexual Attitude and Satisfaction Confinement by COVID-19

Abstract

Background. The coronavirus pandemic has forced the world to lockdown. The aim of this study is to understand its effect on sexuality. Methods. Observational, descriptive and cross-design through an ad-hoc designed Google survey to 5178 people over 18 years old of an average age of 30 from 30 countries between 1 and 10 April 2020. The survey consisted of two questionnaires: a Sexual Opinion Survey and a New Scale of Sexual Satisfaction. We have carried out univariate, bivariate analyses and a multivariate logistic regression model. Results. Previous sexual satisfaction was moderately or very satisfactory in 84.1% of cases and it descended up to 50.35% during lockdown, with an improvement in couple relationship in 50.74% and deterioration in 49.26%. The female’s sexual attitudes were 1.5 times superior to men’s and 2.2 times superior in people who have sexual relations. The most satisfactory sexual conduct was virtual sex with an outside partner (46.87%) and masturbation was the most frequent (38.2%). Sexual satisfaction correlated positively with high religiosity, with an improvement in the couple’s relationship and with virtual sex relations with an outside partner. Conclusions. The COVID-19 lockdown has caused a decrease in sexual satisfaction and has substantially altered some sexual attitudes.