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. 2022 Jun 24;19(13):7769.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19137769.

Is There a Direct Link between Sexual Satisfaction and Restrictions during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Aleksandra M Rogowska  1 , Natalia Wójcik  2 , Aleksandra Janik  1 , Paulina Klimala  3
Affiliations

Is There a Direct Link between Sexual Satisfaction and Restrictions during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Aleksandra M Rogowska et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Research suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions decreased sexual function and satisfaction. The present study examines the direct relationship between sexual satisfaction and restrictions during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in Poland between 3 September 2020 and 18 January 2021. A convenience sample of 1364 adults, aged 18-67 (M = 25.13, SD = 6.45), among whom 62.39% were women, and 23.17% were single, completed anonymous web-based survey. The Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire (SSQ) and Stringency Index (IS) were used to assess sexual satisfaction and the level of restrictions during the pandemic, respectively. Results: No direct association was found between sexual satisfaction and the level of restrictions during the lockdown. Sexual satisfaction was significantly worse among single participants than those living in a couple. No gender differences were found in sexual satisfaction. Conclusions: Future studies should examine an indirect association between sexual satisfaction and restrictions during the pandemic via stress and anxiety. Single relationship status should be considered a risk factor for sexual satisfaction, so single individuals should be a target group for prevention programs during the pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; gender; lockdown; relationship status; restrictions level; sexual satisfaction; stringency index.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
COVID-19 Stringency Index (SI): (a) 3 September 2020 (beginning of the data collection), (b) 18 January 2021 (ending of the data collection), (c) timeline from 3 September 2020 until 18 January 2021. The country in the black circle is Poland. Source: Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker, Blavatnik School of Government, the University of Oxford http://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus (accessed on 1 March 2022).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Sexual satisfaction scores over five months (September, October, November, December and January). Data were collected from 3 September 2020 to 18 January 2021.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The marginal effect of Stringency Index on Sexual Satisfaction. The black line represents the regression slope; the dotted line is the 95% prediction interval; the gray area is the 95% confidence interval.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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