Is the Pandemic Making Couples Sick of Each Other? And How Has It Impacted Individual Sexuality?

After countless stay-at-home orders, lockdowns, and travel restrictions, we currently find ourselves close to two years into a pandemic that seems to be nearing its end. As I look back at the various stages of this crisis, I contemplate a multitude of questions regarding how the pandemic, as well as the infection itself, have impacted personal sexuality and relationships. How has the pandemic affected the relationship dynamic between couples? How have the sexual behaviors of couples been impacted? How have individual sexual activities changed? What are the worrisome long-term impacts of the COVID-19 infection on sexuality? In order to answer these questions, I will be approaching them with a biopsychosocial lens to illustrate a full picture of their implications.

Has the pandemic brought couples closer together or farther apart?

The Good

Lockdowns and stay-at-home orders enforce isolation, meaning that couples residing together may only have each other to socialize with. In turn, they have nothing but time for partnered sex and romance, at any time of the day (Döring, 2020). This undisturbed opportunity for closeness may lead to a “coronavirus baby boom” in the near future (Döring, 2020). Panzeri et al. (2020) conducted a study looking at the effects of lockdowns on cohabitating couples and found that 12.1% of men and 18.7% of women experienced an increase in sexual desire, and that 15.2% of men and 20.9% of women perceived an increase in arousal. These effects were believed to be attributed to more free time, more time with one’s significant other, reduced stress, and boredom. Addi et al. (2020) found that couples in stable sexual relationships, especially those who were married, developed an increased desire for sexual intercourse, which could contribute to a rise in global fertility. However, it is hypothesized that if prolonged, these periods may actually become stressful and alarming, thus having the reverse effect on the birth rate (Döring, 2020). Fortunately, other theories have hypothesized that the fear induced by exceptional circumstances, such as a global pandemic, positively affect fertility and togetherness. Terror management theory hypothesizes that concerns about death brought about by catastrophes can cause people to value family, thus becoming motivated to marry and reproduce (Döring, 2020). Attachment theory explains that threats bring individuals, most notably couples, closer together as they seek comfort and protection (Döring, 2020). Finally, replacement theory predicts that people tend to conceive more children in times of crisis to compensate for the loss of life (Döring, 2020). It will be interesting to see if these fertility effects prove to be true in this unique emergency, as they are complex and influenced by various external factors.

The Bad

There is no doubt that the pandemic and its consequential lockdowns have allowed couples and families to spend more time together, but is this necessarily a good thing? Döring (2020) found that the limited space which resulted from home-schooling and both partners working from home led to higher relationship stress and the exacerbation of pre-existing conflicts. The inability to seemingly get away from one another caused couples to get bored and annoyed with each other, and in turn have less sex. This may contribute to a rise in separation and divorce rates in the near future (Döring & Walter, 2020, as cited in Döring, 2020). Panzeri et al. (2020) determined that 18.2% of men and 26.4% of women experienced a decrease in sexual desire, and that 12.1% of men and 20.9% of women observed a decrease in arousal during the lockdown periods. This negative alteration of sexual habits may have been caused by lack of privacy and time apart, and feelings of imprisonment. For women, the stress and worry generated by the lack of privacy significantly decreased the quality of their sexual lives by diminishing their pleasure and satisfaction (Panzeri et al., 2020; Yuksel & Ozgor, 2020). Additionally, the fear of acquiring a COVID-19 infection reduced physical intimacy between couples (Hensel et al., 2020, as cited in Panzeri et al., 2020). Not only have relationship problems been exacerbated, but so have mental and physical ones (Döring, 2020). This points towards the need for effective and accessible psychosocial care, even during a pandemic. Isolation may escalate sexualized domestic violence, as well as make it harder for victims to obtain assistance (Döring, 2020). It is of utmost importance for alternative violence reporting measures to be put in place, and for mental support and physical care to be readily available. Sexual and reproductive health must be prioritized during emergencies because these matters are often sensitive and closely related to quality of life.

What are the individuals impacts of COVID-19 on sexuality and solo sex?

Solo Sex

Autoerotic sexuality in the form of masturbation has increased during domestic isolation (Döring, 2020). Not only do individuals have more time and opportunity to masturbate, but it also provides much needed stress and anxiety relief (Döring, 2020). Furthermore, pornography use has also expanded, with Pornhub noticing a worldwide increase in the use of its services (Pornhub Insights, n.d., as cited in Panzeri et al., 2020). Coronavirus porn has even become an up-and-coming porn genre, as sexual fantasies often reflect current events (Döring, 2020). Sex toy use has also increased, as greater opportunity has pushed individuals to seek extra-pleasurable masturbation with the help of mechanical aids (Döring, 2020). The lack of ability to obtain casual sex has been replaced with more phone and online sex (Döring, 2020).

Sexual Outcomes of Infection

Opting for solo sex rather than partnered sex in order to avoid infection with the COVID-19 virus may be a wise choice for physical, as well as sexual health. Women report significantly lower female sexual function index (FSFI) scores after having contracted the virus, meaning that infection has severely impacted their sexual performance (Nawaz et al., 2021). Men, on the other hand, are six times more likely to develop short-term or long-term erectile dysfunction (ED) after being exposed to the virus (Guynup, 2021). The virus leaves the body in a state of hyperinflammation which can have consequences for cardiovascular and pulmonary function, in turn contributing to ED as it is a surrogate marker for health in those domains (Sansone et al., 2020). This is especially worrying because the contagion rate is highest amongst elderly men, who are already susceptible to ED.

The positive and negative aspects of the pandemic on sexuality are at odds with each other. It is inevitable that some couples will become closer, and others will grow apart. Many variables affect intimacy, and more research will be required to determine exactly how these work together to impact sexuality.  Even though relationships and partnered sex have changed, solo sex seems to be thriving, which will hopefully allow for personal exploration and gratifying sexual experiences. Individuals should be weary of the virus due to its long-term implications on sexual health, but thankfully vaccination can help remediate these risks.

Rachel Portelance

BScH – Life Sciences and Psychology, 5th year

 References

Addi, R. A., Benksim, A., & Cherkaoui, M. (2020). Sexuality and fertility in the time of COVID-19. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Investigations, 11(4), Article em00741. https://doi.org/10.5799/jcei/8211

Döring, N. (2020). How is the COVID-19 pandemic affecting our sexualities? An overview of the current media narratives and research hypotheses. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(8), 2765-2778. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01790-z

Guynup, S. (2021, September 22). COVID-19 may impair men’s sexual performance. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/covid-19-may-impair-mens-sexual-performance

Nawaz, M, U., Rivera, E., Vinayak, S., Elahi, K., Kumar, M., Chand, M., Ezae, S., Khalid, D., Naz, S., & Shaukat, F. (2021). Comparison of sexual function before and after COVID-19 infection in female patients. Cureus, 13(9), Article e18156. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.18156

Panzeri, M., Ferrucci, R., Cozza, A., & Fontanesi, L. (2020). Changes in sexuality and quality of couple relationships during the COVID-19 lockdown. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 565823. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.565823

Sansone, A., Mollaioli, D., Ciocca, G., Limoncin, E., Colonnello, E., Vena, W., & Jannini, E. A. (2020). Addressing male sexual and reproductive health in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak. Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, 44, 223-231. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-020-01350-1

Yuksel, B., & Ozgor, F. (2020). Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on female sexual behavior. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 150(1), 98-102. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.13193