Gender differences in the association of psychological distress and sexual compulsivity before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic had numerous consequences for general, mental and sexual health. As gender differences in sexual compulsivity (SC) have been reported in the past and SC has been connected to adverse events and psychological distress, the current study aims at investigating associations between these factors in the context of contact restrictions in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Methods: We collected data for five time points in four retrospective measurement points in an online convenience sample (n T0 = 399, n T4 = 77). We investigated the influence of gender, several pandemic-related psychosocial circumstances, sensation seeking (Brief Sensation Seeking Scale), and psychological distress (Patient-Health-Questionnaire-4) on the change of SC (measured with an adapted version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale) between T0 and T1 (n = 292) in a linear regression analysis. Additionally, the course of SC over the time of the pandemic was explored with a linear mixed model. Results: Male gender was associated with higher SC compared to female gender over all measurement points. An older age, being in a relationship, having a place to retreat was associated with a change to lower SC during the first time of the pandemic. Psychological distress was associated with SC in men, but not in women. Men, who reported an increase of psychological distress were also more likely to report an increase of SC. Discussion: The results demonstrate that psychological distress seems to correlate with SC differently for men and women. This could be due to different excitatory and inhibitory influences on men and women during the pandemic. Furthermore, the results demonstrate the impact of pandemic related psychosocial circumstances in the times of contact restrictions.

[Changes in sexual interests and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic - A qualitative content analysis]. / Veränderungen sexueller Interessen und Erfahrungen während der COVID-19-Pandemie - Eine qualitative Inhaltsanalyse.

BACKGROUND: Contact restrictions imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affect people's social lives at various levels as well as their mental and sexual health. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to assess changes in sexual interests and experiences of residents in Germany during the first wave of social contact restrictions in early 2020. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In an anonymous online survey, answers to an open question regarding changes in sexuality due to contact restrictions were collected and subjected to Mayring's qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The changes reported by 248 participants could be subsumed under the categories "sexual desire and arousability", "relationship", "sexual activities", "sexual interests and attitudes", "virtual sexual activities", "dating" and "sexual problems and dysfunctions". CONCLUSION: Social distancing rules and restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic have led to changes in sexuality and relationships, which should be considered in sexual and couple therapy settings.