Facemasks cannot kiss: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sexual behavior of the Greek population

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic affected the emotional state and the sexual behavior of people all around the world due to social distancing and quarantine restrictions, as well as due to financial impact. This quantitative study examines the effects of COVID-19 on the sexual behavior of the Greek population, considering the psychological distress, the place of residency and the relationship status. A set of questionnaires was administered to 221 Greek women and men, partnered and single, to scrutinize their perceived impact of COVID-19, their levels of distress, and their sexual behavior using a three-way multivariate analysis of covariance. Results supported that the COVID-19 pandemic is negatively influencing their levels of distress and the sexual behavior of both women and men. Most of the participants reported mild levels of distress linked to COVID-19 which predicted their overall sexual function. Meanwhile, cohabitation was also associated with sexual function, while the relationship status influenced differently both women and men. Further research could examine the sexual behavior of Greek population using additional measures for potential emotional impact because of COVID-19, and sexual behavior in minorities such as people with special needs and psychiatric disorders.