Abstract
Restrictions of free movement have been proven effective in tackling the spread of COVID-19 disease. However, sensitive populations submitted to longer periods of restrictions may experience detrimental effects in significant areas of their lifestyle, such as sexual activity. This study examines sexual activity during the COVID-19 confinement in Spain. A survey distributed through an institutional social media profile served to collect data, whereas chi-squared tests, t-tests, analyses of variance, and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to assess differences among sample subgroups. A total of 71.3% adults (N = 536) (72.8% female) reported engaging in sexual activity with a weekly average of 2.39 times (SD = 1.80), with significant differences favoring males, middle age, married/in a domestic relationship (p < 0.001), employed (p < 0.005), medium–high annual household income, living outside the Iberian Peninsula, and smoking and alcohol consumption. Analyses adjusted for the complete set of control variables showed significant odds for a lower prevalence of weekly sexual activity in women (OR = 0.44, 95% CI 0.27–0.72). Interventions to promote sexual activity in confined Spanish adults may focus on groups with lower sexual activity.
Highlights
In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic [1]
The present study describes the levels of sexual activity in a sample of Spanish adults during COVID-19 social distancing
These differences in levels of sexual activity may be due to social attitudes towards sexual activity in Spain compared to the UK, since levels of sexual activity remain high among older Spanish adults, especially in males [16], even when compared with Spanish adolescents [17], another study observed
Summary
In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic [1]. COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2, a variant of coronavirus. COVID-19 is a respiratory virus that is transmitted by large respiratory droplets and direct contact with infected secretions [2]. In order to tackle the spread of the virus SARS-CoV-2, the Spanish Government approved a period of confinement due to COVID-19 on 15 March 2020; during the confinement period, enacted measures comprised free movement restrictions and imposed social distancing, owing to these restrictions, daily routines were likely to be dramatically affected [3]. A relevant behavior that is likely to be impacted by the Spanish social distancing guidance is sexual behavior, which can encompass a plethora of acts including penetrative sex (vaginal, anal), oral sex, and mutual masturbation, the information on this topic among the Spanish population remains unknown
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
