Safe-Sex and Safe-Dating among Single People During COVID-19: Is it Possible?

One of the many new terms you may have heard during the COVID-19 pandemic is ‘quarantine bae’. This refers to one’s romantic partner during the pandemic, motivated by the avoidance of facing the obstacles of being single. The emergence of this term reflects the hurdles faced by single people as a result of social distancing restrictions, stay-at-home orders, fear of contracting COVID-19 and even spreading the disease to household members. Therefore, it is not surprising that a study of 26 countries found that being single was associated with higher levels of perceived stress during lockdown (Kowal et al., 2020). This is coupled with mandates dictating that abstinence is the gold standard for single people during this time (Cabello et al., 2020). As we wait for widespread COVID-19 vaccine accessibility in Canada and the possibility of a third wave, it is worth considering the following question: based on our learnings in the past year, is there a reasonable and safe way for single people to be sexual and/or date during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Currently, evidence shows that there is a very low likelihood of contracting COVID-19 through semen or vaginal fluids (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2020). However, partnered sexual activity involves close contact, which presents a very significant risk for transmission. For example, kissing, which is a very common practice during partnered sexual activity, can involve the exchange of saliva that may contain the virus (Eleuteri & Terzitta, 2021). Also, for single people hoping to date, activities such as getting coffee, going for dinner, or going to the movies, may also involve close contact (e.g., less than 6 ft distance) or even be logistically impossible due to lockdown closures. Even meeting potential dating or sexual partners in-person in the first place may pose a significant risk of exposure and is also more difficult due to COVID-19 restrictions. Thus, if you are a single person looking for 0% risk of transmission, it is clear that close contact partnered sexual activity and dating is not the way to go.

When partnered sexual activity does occur, the possibility of safe sex among single people during the pandemic is further threatened given pandemic trends in contraception use and safe sex practices. For instance, loneliness has been associated with sexual risk-taking (Martin & Knox, 1997). Thus, the social isolation and high levels of stress and loneliness experienced by single people may actually lead to increased levels of risky sexual behaviours. A recent study in Australia found a general decline in condom use during the pandemic among 149 heterosexual participants, which was especially pronounced among single people (Dacosta et al., 2021). It was suggested that this was a result of the burden of receiving additional COVID-19 health guidelines on top of sexual health guidelines. Although rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) decreased substantially in Ontario since the pandemic’s onset (Public Health Ontario, 2020), this is likely due to a drop in STI screening and testing. In fact, this has already been shown to be a significant problem that disproportionately impacts the LGBTQIA+ community in Canada, with many delayed or missed asymptomatic STI diagnoses, a lack of STI screening, as well as lack of adherence to antiretroviral therapy for those who are HIV positive (Brennan et al., 2020). This also means that clinical eligibility for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) may be currently limited in Canada (Brennan et al., 2020). This difficulty in maintaining safe-sex practices presents another issue with in-person partnered sexual activity during the pandemic.

So, does this mean that abstinence is the way to go? Not necessarily, as this may depend on one’s personal definition of “abstinence.” In light of the current difficulties with meeting potential partners in-person, there has been a rapid increase in online dating applications usage, such as Tinder since social distancing measures have been imposed (Chisom, 2021). But will those who meet online end up in close contact if they do meet? Although some may, it seems that many are relying on online contacts instead. One study found that some of the most common new additions to peoples’ sexual activity during the pandemic was cybersex and filming oneself masturbating (Lehmiller et al., 2020). Being younger and living alone were also significant factors linked to adding these new sexual activities in peoples’ sexual lives (Lehmiller et al., 2020). Sexting is another common activity, and it has shown to be a mutually positive sex activity when both partners are comfortable with this engagement (Hudson & Fetro, 2015). A similar approach can be taken for dating relationships, as it is also feasible to maintain online dating relationships through instant messaging, telephone calls, and video calling. In fact, technology-based communications may even demonstrate a “hyperpersonalization effect,” in which in intimacy is heightened compared to in-person interactions (Walther, 1994). Interestingly, at a time when single people feel very limited in their sexual and dating activities, this research provides evidence of increased sexual diversity, as less common sexual and dating activities have become more normalized. This shows that single people can and are adapting their sexual and dating lives in unique and creative ways in support of safety.

For those who are not satisfied with these technology-based solutions there is another option. It seems that masturbation is not a part of medical professionals’ definition of abstinence in safety guidelines. As a result, single people can shift their perspectives and view this time as an opportunity to learn new strategies for sexual pleasure on their own (Lopes et al., 2020). They can then bring what they have learned to future partnered sexual activities once Canadians are vaccinated. Masturbation, therefore, provides a method for single people to engage in sexual activity without taking on any risk.

Another important point, made clear by the extensive literature about the failures of abstinence-only education (Santelli et al., 2006), is that it is not reasonable to assume that all people will adopt abstinence from in-person dating activities and partnered in-person sexual activities (Banerjee & Rao, 2020). This is coupled with the reality that among younger adults in Ontario, those who are single have been suggested to be less compliant with COVID-19 public health measures (Evidence Synthesis Unit, 2020). Therefore, those who are not satisfied with safer options and decide they are willing to take on some risks should be informed how to do so in a way that minimizes risks as much as possible. For example, a person who wants to go on an in-person date should consider activities that maintain social distance, such as a socially distanced walk. For those who wish to engage in close-contact sexual activities, despite public health recommendations, should adhere to other public health recommendations such as self-monitoring symptoms, avoiding kissing and face-to-face contact, wearing a mask, and engaging in safer sex practices (e.g., condom use, STI screening) (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2020). In addition, at-home STI Testing programs for chlamydia and gonorrhea are important tools during the COVID-19 era (Carnevale et al., 2021).

While in-person partnered sexual activity is a high risk option, many alternatives to engage sexually exist for single people during the age of COVID-19. According to the World Health Organization, sexual health is defined as “…a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease…” (2017). Although the absence of disease – specifically COVID-19 – is ideal, it is extremely important that young single adults are given accurate options and information, as maintaining sexual health is important during this stressful and unprecedented time.

SexLab is currently recruiting for a study looking at Sexual Outcomes in people who have tested positive for COVID-19. Check it out HERE! 

Rina Gutzin, B.A.H. Psychology 2021, Queen’s University

References

Banerjee, D., & Rao, T. (2020). Sexuality, sexual well being, and intimacy during COVID-19 pandemic: An advocacy perspective. Indian journal of psychiatry, 62(4), 418–426. https://doi.org/10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_484_20

Brennan, D. J., Card, K. G., Collict, D., Jollimore, J., & Lachowsky, N. J. (2020). How Might Social Distancing Impact Gay, Bisexual, Queer, Trans and Two-Spirit Men in Canada? AIDS and Behavior, 24(9), 2480-2482. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-02891-5

Cabello, F., Sánchez, F., Farré, J. M., & Montejo, A. L. (2020). Consensus on Recommendations for Safe Sexual Activity during the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic. Journal of clinical medicine, 9(7), 2297. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9072297

Carnevale, C., Richards, P., Cohall, R., Choe, J., Zitaner, J., Hall, N., . . . Zucker, J. (2020). At-Home Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 48(1), 11-14. doi:10.1097/olq.0000000000001313

Chisom, O. B. (2021). Effects of Modern Dating Applications on Healthy Offline Intimate Relationships during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review of the Tinder Dating Application. Advances in Journalism and Communication, 9(1), 12-38. doi:10.4236/ajc.2021.91002

Eleuteri, S., & Terzitta, G. (2021). Sexuality during the COVID-19 pandemic: The importance of Internet. Sexologies, 30(1), 42-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sexol.2020.12.008

Evidence Synthesis Unit (Research, Analysis and Evaluation Branch, Ministry of Health). (2020, December, 10). Evidence Briefing Note: Youth Compliance With COVID-19 Public Health Measures. Evidence Synthesis Network: COVID-19 Collaboration in Practice. https://esnetwork.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Evidence-Synthesis-BN_Youth-Compliance-with-COVID-19-Public-Health-Measures_11-DEC-2020-1.pdf

Hudson, H.K., & Fetro, J.V. (2015). Sextual activity: Predictors of sexting behaviors and intentions to sext among selected undergraduate students. Computers in Human Behavior, 49, 615–22. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2015.03.048.

Kowal, M., Coll-Martín, T., Ikizer, G., Rasmussen, J., Eichel, K., Studzinska, A., . . . Ahmed, O. (2020). Who Is the Most Stressed During COVID-19 Isolation? Data From 27 Countries. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-being, 12(4), 946-966. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12234

Lehmiller, J. J., Garcia, J. R., Gesselman, A. N., & Mark, K. P. (2020). Less Sex, but More Sexual Diversity: Changes in Sexual Behavior during the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic. Leisure Sciences, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2020.1774016

Lopes, G. P., Vale, F. B., Vieira, I., Filho, A. L., Abuhid, C., & Geber, S. (2020). COVID-19 and Sexuality: Reinventing Intimacy. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(8), 2735-2738. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01796-7

Martin, J. I., & Knox, J. (1997). Loneliness and Sexual Risk Behavior in Gay Men. Psychological Reports, 81(3), 815–825. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1997.81.3.815

Public Health Agency of Canada. (2020). Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada on September 2, 2020. Retrieved from the Government of Canada website: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2020/09/statement-from-the-chief-public-health-officer-of-canada-on-september-2-2020.html

Public Health Ontario. (2020). Monthly Infectious Diseases Surveillance Report: Diseases of Public Health Significance cases for January to December 2020. Retrieved from the Public Health Ontario website: https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/surveillance-reports/infectious/surveillance-report-infectious-diseases-2020.pdf?la=en

Santelli, J., Ott, M. A., Lyon, M., Rogers, J., Summers, D., & Schleifer, R. (2006). Abstinence and abstinence-only education: A review of U.S. policies and programs. Journal of Adolescent Health, 38(1), 72-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.10.006

Walther, J. B. (1996). Computer-mediated communication: Impersonal, interpersonal, and hyperpersonal interaction. Communication research, 23(1), 3-43. https://doi.org/10.1177/009365096023001001