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Changes in intimacy and sexuality during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A qualitative analysis of data from a survey on partnered individuals in eight European countries
Löfgren, Charlotta Elmerstig, Eva Schröder, Johanna Chollier, Marie Mehulić, Jasmina de Graaf, Hanneke Klapilova, Katerina Tavares, Inês Briken, Peer Köse, Özlem
Löfgren, Charlotta
Elmerstig, Eva
Schröder, Johanna
Chollier, Marie
Mehulić, Jasmina
de Graaf, Hanneke
Klapilova, Katerina
Tavares, Inês
Briken, Peer
Köse, Özlem
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2022-10-22
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Abstract
This qualitative study explores experiences of intimacy and sexuality during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic of 3357 participants from Croatia, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, and Turkey. Data were collected through open-ended questions within a survey on sexuality during the pandemic. Based on a reflexive thematic analysis three themes occurred. The first theme No change was described by 41% when summarizing their sex life during the pandemic. The second theme Positive change was experienced by 25%, and the third theme Negative change by 21%. An overarching theme then emerged as: “Still the same trajectories, but the pandemic could be a catalyst for improved or worsened sex- life.” For those intimate partnered individuals who already had problems with intimacy and sexuality before the COVID-19 pandemic it seemed to remain the same or deteriorated throughout the pandemic. For those with positive experiences of intimacy and sexuality before the COVID-19 pandemic it remained the same or improved throughout the pandemic. These findings are relevant for researchers and clinicians in developing preventive and supportive interventions in the context of crisis and social isolation.
Citation
Löfgren, C., Elmerstig, E., Schröder, J., Chollier, M., Mehulić, J., de Graaf, H., Klapilova, K., Tavares, I., Briken, P., Köse, Ö., Nobre, P., & Štulhofer, A. (2023). Changes in intimacy and sexuality during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative analysis of data from a survey on partnered individuals in eight European countries. Sexuality & culture, 27(2), 693-714. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-022-10035-1
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Springer Nature
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Sexuality & Culture
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Article
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en
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© The Author(s) 2022. The version of record of this article, first published in [Sexuality & Culture], is available online at Publisher’s website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12119-022-10035-1
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1095-5143
EISSN
1936-4822
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Open access funding provided by Malmö University. The study was carried out under the auspices of the COST 2019–2023 Action European Sexual Medicine Network (CA18124; https://www.esmn-cost.eu/), but no direct funding was obtained for the study.