Online Sexual Activities Research Articles

Problematic internet use prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic

The health and socio-economic challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic have led to greater reliance on the internet to meet basic needs and responsibilities. Greater engagement in online activities may have negative mental and physical health consequences for some vulnerable individuals, particularly under mandatory self-isolation or ‘lockdown’ conditions. The present study investigated whether changes in levels of involvement in online activities during the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., watching TV series, online sexual activities, video games, social networks, gambling, online shopping, and instant messaging) were associated with problematic internet use, as well as whether certain psychological risk factors (positive/negative affect and impulsivity) were significant predictors of these changes. A total of 1,275 participants (66.1% female, aged between 18-55 years) completed an online survey while in lockdown in Spain (April 15th-23rd, 2020). The survey assessed current engagement in seven different online activities and their engagement prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as psychological risk factors (affect and impulsivity). Most participants (between 60.8%-98.6% depending on the activity) reported no changes in participation in online activities, but there was a significant increase in weekly internet use (between 25 and 336 min). However, increased internet use was not accompanied by a corresponding increase in problematic use, except for problematic TV series watching and video gaming. Psychological risk factors considered in the study (affect, impulsivity traits) were largely minor or non-significant predictors. Thus, increased internet use during the lockdown in Spain was not related to a proportional growth in problematic usage, suggesting that these behavioral changes may constitute adaptive coping strategies in the context of the pandemic.

60.1 SEXTING BEFORE AND DURING THE PANDEMIC

Research has now established that sexting occurs for a variety of reasons and in a variety of contexts. Among older adolescents, it can serve to enhance intimacy within a relationship, to attract partners, or to demonstrate fearlessness or daring. There are indications that sexting may have changed during the current pandemic. This presentation will draw upon 2 studies: one of 1219 college students conducted in 2020, and a second study examining the impact of the pandemic specifically on approximately 100 youth in late adolescence. These studies were conducted online during the summer and fall of 2020 with both males and females. Data suggest that sexting during the pandemic has increased by approximately 7%, but underage sexting actually declined during 2020. Other findings include: 39% of youth report that they were not in a sexual relationship during the last year; 26% remained in a relationship; 21% initiated a new relationship; and 15% terminated a relationship. Among those who sought a sexual relationship, 68% reported that the pandemic made meeting and dating people significantly more difficult, and 63% reported feeling isolated and lonely at home. The pandemic has made a significant impact upon the social and sexual relationships, including the online sexual activities, that youth experience. Sexting appears to have increased somewhat, but youth also reported significant difficulty in achieving face-to-face sexual relationships. Sexting may have replaced sexual activity for some youth during 2020.

Impact of the use of sexual material and online sexual activity during preventive social isolation due to COVID-19

Introduction. Preventive social isolation due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has represented one of the greatest health challenges of the last decades worldwide. As a result of social isolation, the consumption of information in digital media, such as the use of online sexual material, has increased, leading to risky sexual behavior in young people. Objective. To quantify the impact on the use and type of online sexual material and to determine the predictors of online sexual activity in people in preventive social isolation due to COVID-19. Method. Multivariate cross-sectional study; 385 participants were studied and contacted through an online survey. Results. Internet pages and social networks are the main platforms for the use of online sexual material, and its consumption was more frequent in those who had more days of preventive social isolation. Predictors of sexual activity were cybersex (β = .38), excitation (β = .36), masturbation (β = .34), and adventure (β = .33), which were found to be statistically significant (p ˂ .001). Discussion and conclusion. Privacy plays an important role in the use of online sexual material and activities, and greater consumption can be found in intimacy. It is important to be alert to the effects of the pandemic on sexual risk behavior and further research is needed.

Sexual Health in Spanish People with Intellectual Disability: the Impact of the Lockdown due to COVID-19

IntroductionThe lockdown due to COVID-19 affected the sexual health of the people with intellectual disabilities by differentially modifying the frequency and characteristics of people’s sexual activity depending on whether or not they lived with a partner during this period. The aim of this study was to analyze the extent to which the sexual behavior of people with intellectual disabilities (with and without a partner) was affected during the lockdown.MethodsThe sample consisted of 73 people with intellectual disabilities between 21 and 63 years old (M = 39.63; SD = 10.11). The variables analyzed were the physical, social, and technological environment during the lockdown, sexual appetite, sexual behavior, online sexual activity, and sexual abuse. The data were collected between the months of May and June of 2020.ResultsThe lockdown increased the sexual appetite of a third of the sample (38%), especially the youngest participants. Sexual activity focused on autoeroticism and online behavior, particularly sending nude images of oneself (88%) and viewing pornography (83.6%). Rates of sexual abuse during this period were relatively high (6.8%).ConclusionsThe sexual activity of people with ID was important during the lockdown, and they had to adapt to the circumstances of isolation in a similar way to the general population. Technological improvements in terms of devices and connection quality at home allowed their sexual behavior to be reoriented, opening the door to new risks for the sexual health of people with ID.Policy ImplicationsCybersex and the increase in sexual abuse due to confinement are aspects that should be included in programs to improve the sexual health of this group.

Offender strategies for engaging children in online sexual activity

BackgroundFollowing technological developments, there has been increasing interest in online offenders' use of digital communication technology to sexually groom and abuse children. However, research has thus far primarily explored offenders' interactions with decoys instead of actual children, and initial evidence indicates that conversations with actual children may include more overt persuasion and extortion than conversations with decoys. ObjectiveThis study aims to describe online offenders' interactions with actual children when inciting them to engage in online sexual activity. Participants and settingSwedish court judgements including 50 offenders (aged 16–69, median = 28.9) and 122 child victims (aged 7–17, median = 13.0) were analyzed. MethodsBy using an explorative mixed-methods approach, we thematically analyzed what strategies the children were exposed to, and looked for patterns between the strategy used and the characteristics of the abuse, victim, or offender. ResultsWe identified two types of strategies that the children were exposed to: pressure (threats, bribes, or nagging, N = 56), and sweet-talk (flattery, acting as a friend, or expressing love, N = 25). Overall, the offenders who used pressure were younger and targeted older children than the offenders who used sweet-talk. ConclusionsThis study expands the existing knowledge about the variety of manipulative strategies used by online offenders and adds support to the initial literature showing substantially more pressure and coercion in online offenders' interactions with actual children. The study also identifies some patterns between the strategy used and the age of the offender and victim that warrant further investigation in future studies.

The Impact of Negative Mood on Event-Related Potentials When Viewing Pornographic Pictures.

Background: Negative affective states may increase the risk for problematic pornography use. Underlying neurophysiological mechanisms are, however, not completely understood. Previous research suggests that the participants' emotional state may affect neural processing of sexual stimuli. The aim of this study was to investigate neural correlates of negative affect-induced alterations in sexual cue reactivity in healthy men. The moderating effects of habitual porn consumption, trait sexual motivation, and symptoms of cybersex addiction were also considered.Method: Sixty-four healthy men engaged in a sexual cue reactivity task (passive viewing of explicit sexual pictures and neutral pictures depicting scenes of social interaction) during negative (n = 32) vs. neutral affect (n = 32), induced via tailored feedback on a performance task. Self-reported sexual arousal and event-related brain potentials indicated cue reactivity and motivated attention. Symptoms of cybersex addiction and trait sexual motivation were assessed with the help of the short Internet Addiction Test, adapted to online sexual activities, and the Trait Sexual Motivation Questionnaire.Results: Negative feedback increased negative affect after the performance task. While sexual pictures compared to neutral pictures elicited significantly larger P300 and late positive potential (LPP) amplitudes, there was no general effect of negative feedback on sexual stimuli-related P300 and LPP amplitudes. In the negative feedback group, men with higher solitary sexual motivation levels showed higher P300/LPP difference amplitudes for sexual stimuli compared to men with lower levels of solitary sexual motivation. The opposite effect was found in the group with neutral feedback. There was no link to other aspects of trait sexual motivation and symptoms of cybersex addiction.Conclusions: Results suggest that higher levels of solitary sexual motivation may enhance motivated attention toward sexual stimuli among men receiving negative performance feedback. Other characteristics of sexual behaviors and traits provided no exploratory value. Future studies extending onto men suffering from compulsive sexual behavior disorder will have to closer look at the neurophysiological bases of why and when some men develop an addictive pornography consumption.

A multicenter study on problematic pornography consumption

Introduction: Internet pornography use is a sexual behavior, and it comprises a variety of online sexual activities, including watching pornography, online pornography exchange, and engaging in sex chats. Due to rise in Internet access and technologies, online pornography and other type of repetitive behaviors have increased. The current study was aimed to estimate the prevalence of problematic pornography consumption among undergraduate medical students. Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was carried out at seven different centers of Gujarat from October 2020 to December 2020. Online structured questionnaire in two different parts: (1) Demographic details and usage pattern of pornography among students, (2) Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale was prepared and shared with all undergraduate students through designated faculty. Logistic regression analysis was used for problematic pornography consumption (as dependent variable) and other categorical variables as independent variables. Results: A total of 1926 participants completed the study. The prevalence of problematic pornography consumption among participants was 14.6% (95% confidence interval 12.4–16.1). Male participants and participants who are in a romantic relationship have higher problematic pornography consumption. Participants' gender (odds ratio OR = 3.562), relationship status (OR = 1.636), weekly (OR = 1.749), and daily (OR = 1.733) pornography consumption emerged as statistically significant with the problematic pornography consumption from the logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: Problematic pornography consumption is more prevalent among male under graduate medical students than females. It is important to educate the students about the potential harmful adverse effects of pornography and to develop a positive attitude toward sex.

Young Adults' Qualitative Self-Reports of Their Outcomes of Online Sexual Activities.

Online sexual activities (OSA) refer to Internet-based activities, behaviours, and materials that are sexual in nature. Many young adults engage in OSA, but report doing so infrequently. Most OSA outcome research has focused on negative effects of only some types of OSA (e.g., viewing pornography online). The goal of this study was to enhance knowledge on the range of OSA outcomes by qualitatively exploring young adults’ self-reported negative and positive outcomes from OSA experiences generally. University/College students from Canada (n = 246), Germany (n = 411), Sweden (n = 299), and the USA (n = 123) completed an online survey that included open-ended questions about “one of the most positive/negative effects that engaging in online sexual activities has had on your life”. More participants provided positive outcome responses than negative outcome responses. Qualitative analysis of the responses suggested a wide range of positive and negative outcome content that fit into seven bi-polar, higher-order themes: No Outcomes, Relationship Outcomes, Sexual Experience, Emotional Outcomes, Knowledge, Personal Outcomes, and Security. We found no variations in themes or their respective codes across the four countries. The findings suggests that researchers, educators, health care and psychology providers need to include multiple dimensions of positive and negative, personal and interpersonal, sexual and non-sexual OSA outcomes in their work

Problematic and non-problematic engagement in Online Sexual Activities across the lifespan

During the last decade, the number of people using the Internet for sexual purposes has increased exponentially. However, most studies conducted so far have analysed Online Sexual Activity (OSA) of adolescents and young people, meaning that we have few information on how this phenomenon is expressed across the lifespan. The aim of this study was to analyse three aspects of OSA (prevalence of different OSAs, motives to engage in OSA, and excessive and problematic engagement in OSA) in a large sample of individuals in different developmental stages. A self-selected sample of 8040 individuals between 12 and 85 years old were recruited and completed an online survey. Participants were distributed into five age groups and compared (<18 years old, between 18 and 25, between 26 and 40, between 41 and 60, and >60). OSA was highly prevalent across all the developmental stages, including people older than 60 years old. Differences according to the age in the use of the Internet for sexual purposes were small-to-moderate, but we identified some age-related trends in different aspects of OSA. Finally, gender was important when it came to understanding these minor age differences. This study provides a preliminary foundation for identifying the unique characteristics of OSA across the lifespan.

Methodology of the German National Sex Survey – GeSiD (German Health and Sexuality Survey)

ABSTRACT The German Health and Sexuality Survey (GeSiD) was carried out in 2018/2019 to provide up-to-date measures of sexual behavior, sexual attitudes and sexual lifestyles of the adult population. We describe the methods used in GeSiD which surveyed the general population in Germany aged 18–75 years (with oversampling of younger adults aged 18–35 years). This article focuses on study design, recruitment, and response rate and discusses the strategies implemented to enhance the response rate compared to the pilot study. Overall, 4.955 interviews were completed with a response rate of 30.2%. The data were weighted by age, gender, education, nationality, and region to reduce possible bias. Compared to the German 2018 census, the weighted sample provides good representativeness for selected respondent characteristics. The computer-assisted interviews consisted of a combination of face-to-face and self-completion components. They covered a broad perspective on sexual health, which included topics such as online sexual activities, pleasure, sexual dysfunction, and sexual violence. Reliable data on sexual and reproductive health in Germany are urgently needed for evidence-based prevention and health promotion work, to inform sexual health policy and for cross-national comparisons of the development of sexual behavior in Europe.

Adolescents who solely engage in online sexual experiences are at higher risk for compulsive sexual behavior

In addition to its expression offline, sexual behavior is frequently expressed online. Some adolescents solely engage in online sexual activities, whereas others in offline and online activities, or have no sexual experience at all. In the current research, we examined whether those who solely engage in online sexual activities are at greater risk for compulsive sexual behavior. In Study 1 (n = 164), we examined differences in compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) and risky sexual action tendencies between study groups. In Study 2 (n = 713), we statistically replicated the classification into different sexual behaviors and examined differences between the clusters in CSB, social tendencies and socio-demographic measures. Results indicated that adolescents who only engaged in online sexual activities had significantly higher percentage of clinical CSB, were less likely boys and more likely to be religious. There were not more prone to risky sexual behavior, however. The current research expands the knowledge about offline or online sexually related activities among adolescence.

A Systematic Review of Immersive Social Media Activities and Risk Factors for Sexual Boundary Violations among Adolescents

Social media is appealing to the general public, especially the teenagers. This has brought about changes as the role of social media has penetrated our daily activities which directly affects the adolescence. This review looked at the usage of social media amongst adolescents and its impact on their sexual behaviour. Four databases were used in the literature search ie Web of Science, PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Ovid Medline. The search terms used revolved around social media, adolescent and social behaviour. Only English literature published from 2015 to 2020 were included. A total of 244 potentially relevant articles were identified in the initial search. 16 were excluded due to duplicates. A further 199 articles were excluded due to irrelevant population, intervention or outcome. Only 29 articles were suitable for narrative synthesis. The selected articles were analysed for risk factors and impact on the usage of social media on sexual behaviour. Sexual abuse, same-sex sexual activity, pornography, multiple online sexual partner, and sexual dissatisfaction were found to be negative impact. Positive impact included understanding of sexual role and consequences, safe sex practices and improved psychological well-being. This systematic review proved social media usage amongst adolescents have great impact on their sexual behaviour. Sexting was the main social media online sexual activity amongst adolescents which brings about negative sexual behaviours. This must be curb from earlier on which demands parental supervision in monitoring adolescence online activities.

"INSIDE" Project on Sexual Health in Spain: Sexual Life During the Lockdown Caused by COVID-19.

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic is becoming a major hazard to public health worldwide. This is causing a significant impact on life and physical health, as well as on the psychological well-being of the general population. Since the emotional distress and the social restrictions caused by this epidemic, it must be expected that its impact will also extend to sexual health. The purpose of this study, the first including a large sample of the Spanish general population, was to analyze sexual behavior during the 99 days of confinement in Spain (INSIDE Project).MethodOne thousand four hundred forty-eight Spanish people, between 18 and 60 years old, were evaluated through an online survey during April 2020. The variables analyzed were the physical and social environment during confinement, sexual desire, type of sexual activity, masturbation, sexual intercourse, online sexual activity, general sexual frequency, sexual fantasies, degree of self-control over sexual drive, sexual abuse, general impact of confinement on sexuality, and emotional mood.ResultsConfinement has affected the sexual life of half of the Spanish population (47.7%), especially women. Those who reported a worsening of their sexual life are almost three times more (37.9%) than those who reported an improvement (14.4%).ConclusionsDifferent factors have been significant predictors of the positive or negative evaluation about the impact of this confinement on sexual life, such as gender, couple life, privacy, stress level, and the perception of confinement as unbearable.Policy ImplicationsThese results have important implications for the public health and more especially sexual health of the Spanish population.

PNM-30 The Age Range in Studies of Online Sexual Activities: A Literature Review

PNM-30 The Age Range in Studies of Online Sexual Activities: A Literature Review

Do Youths with a Chronic Condition Have Different Online Sexual Activity?

Objective To determine whether youths with chronic conditions differ from healthy peers in their online sexual behavior. Methods Youths with limiting or non-limiting chronic conditions were compared to healthy controls about their online sexual practices separately by gender. Results Only females with limiting conditions had significantly greater online sexual activity than healthy ones, especially for activities involving or aiming to involve a partner. Females with non-limiting conditions and all chronically ill males reported behaviors similar to those of healthy youths. Conclusion The anonymity offered by Internet may allow females with a limiting condition to be more confident to meet new people online.

Cybersex addiction: an overview of the development and treatment of a newly emerging disorder

Cybersex addiction is a non-substance related addiction that involves online sexual activity on the internet. Nowadays, various kinds of things related to sex or pornography are easily accessible through internet media. In Indonesia, sexuality is usually assumed taboo but most young people have been exposed to pornography. It can lead to an addiction with many negative effects on users, such as relationships, money, and psychiatric problems like major depression and anxiety disorders. A few instruments may be used to detect cybersex behavior. This review was aimed to provide a comprehensive discussion about cybersex addiction in Indonesian society and the importance of its screening for this condition to enable its early detection and subsequent management.

Markers of Sexual Life and Health in Association with Internet Use for Sexual Purposes in Czechs Aged 50 and Older

This study explores the characteristics of people aged 50+ who use the internet for sexual purposes. The markers of sexual expression in association with online sexual activities and their perceived benefits to sexual life were investigated in a sample of 799 internet-recruited Czechs aged 50–96 (54.5% men). The analysis employed multivariate logistic regressions that showed that seeking sexually related information online was higher in men who have erectile difficulties and women who are dissatisfied with sexual frequency. Online pornography use and accessing sex-shop websites were higher for participants who masturbated. Visiting online sex shops was associated with the perceived benefits of Internet use for sexual purposes. The absence of a relationship, the frequency of partnered sex and sexual desire had no predictive effect. The findings suggest that older people use the Internet as a convenient source for sexual stimuli and for enhancing partnered sex, and online sex shops may be beneficial for their sexual lives.

Conductas sexuales online y sus motivaciones: una aproximación desde la diversidad sexual

El uso de Internet con objetivos sexuales (cibersexo) es una actividad cada vez más generalizada en todos los sectores de la población. Sin embargo, el modo en el que se realiza (frecuencia, tipos de actividad sexual online –ASO–, motivaciones, etc.) puede cambiar en función de características como la orientación sexual. Cuando el hecho de sentir atracción sexual hacia personas del mismo sexo suponía mayor rechazo y estigmatización que en la actualidad, el cibersexo constituía un espacio seguro donde experimentar con la sexualidad; así, era fácil comprender que su consumo entre personas homosexuales y bisexuales fuera superior. Actualmente, su empleo como espacio seguro parece quedar en segundo plano, ganando protagonismo su uso como una forma plausible de conectar romántica y sexualmente con otras personas. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar si ciertas dimensiones del consumo de cibersexo (su frecuencia, los tipos de ASO y los motivos para el consumo) varían en función de la orientación sexual. A tal fin, 553 personas entre los 18-40 años (54.2% hombres, 45.8% mujeres; 36.2% heterosexuales, 36.2% bisexuales, 27.7% homosexuales) completaron una encuesta online sobre consumo de cibersexo. En hombres, la orientación sexual (ser homosexual o bisexual) mostró gran influencia, principalmente en ASO que requieren contacto con otros usuarios (p.e., buscar pareja [p.001] o usar la webcam con fines sexuales [p.01]) y las motivaciones sociales para hacerlo (p.e., usarlo para establecer relaciones [p=.001]). En mujeres, la orientación sexual influyó de forma más limitada, y sobre algunas ASO concretas (insinuarse a otros usuarios [p.01] o usar la webcam con objetivo sexual [p.001]) o algunas motivaciones (como usarlo para relajarse del estrés [p= .01]); en este caso, las mujeres bisexuales contestaban afirmativamente con mayor freccuencia. Estas diferencias se discuten en el contexto de la construcción actual de la diversidad sexual.

Occurrence and clinical characteristics of Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD): A cluster analysis in two independent community samples.

Background and aimsCompulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) is characterized by a persistent failure to control intense and recurrent sexual impulses, urges, and/or thoughts, resulting in repetitive sexual behavior that causes a marked impairment in important areas of functioning. Despite its recent inclusion in the forthcoming ICD-11, concerns regarding its assessment, diagnosis, prevalence or clinical characteristics remain. The purpose of this study was to identify participants displaying CSBD through a novel data-driven approach in two independent samples and outline their sociodemographic, sexual, and clinical profile.MethodsSample 1 included 1,581 university students (females = 56.9%; Mage = 20.58) whereas sample 2 comprised 1,318 community members (females = 43.6%; Mage = 32.37). First, we developed a new composite index to assess the whole range of CSBD symptoms based on three previously validated scales. Based on this new composite index, we subsequently identified individuals with CSBD through a cluster analytic approach.ResultsThe estimated occurrence of CSBD was 10.12% in sample 1 and 7.81% in sample 2. Participants with CSBD were mostly heterosexual males, younger than respondents without CSBD, reported higher levels of sexual sensation seeking and erotophilia, an increased offline and especially online sexual activity, more depressive and anxious symptoms, and poorer self-esteem.ConclusionsThis research provides further evidence on the occurrence of CSBD based on an alternative data-driven approach, as well as a detailed and nuanced description of the sociodemographic, sexual, and clinical profile of adults with this condition. Clinical implications derived from these findings are discussed in detail.

Addictive Use of Online Sexual Activities and its Comorbidities: a Systematic Review

This systematic review explores comorbidities related to the problematic use of online sexual activities (OSAs) in the absence of any published synthesis on the subject. These comorbidities are commonly confused with problems associated with offline addictive sexual disorders, even though it is not clear whether they are strictly similar. This is the first systematic review of the literature synthesizing data on the comorbidities of problematic OSA use. The pattern of comorbidities that was evidenced supports the hypothesis that problematic OSA use is part of a spectrum of related (yet distinct) disorders, Internet-related disorders. A total of 23 studies were selected and analyzed. The systematic literature review conducted showed that various comorbidities occur with problematic OSA use as follows: (1) addictive behaviors (internet addiction, online gaming problem, substance use disorders), (2) other psychiatric disorders or psychopathological symptoms (mood disorders and suicidality, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, eating disorder, online dissociation), (3) psychological dimensions (insecure peer attachment, specific personality traits), and (4) sexual problems (sexual dysfunction, paraphilia, offline addictive sexual disorders).