Evaluation of sexual behaviors of married couples during the coronavirus pandemic in 2019-2020

Abstract

Purpose: Due to the Corona virus pandemic in 2019, all around the world people had to spend a long time in quarantine. The effect of this life style on the sexual behaviors of couples is an important issue that needs further investigation. The present study mainly aimed to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on the sexual behaviors of married couples.Methods: In total, 740 participants completed questionnaires through different online social platforms. The participants were married men and women over 18 years old. The required data were obtained from the sexual behaviors of couple’s questionnaire (Iranian version), Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale, and demographic variables questionnaire.Results: Data analysis revealed that 56.1% and 49.7% of the participants experienced no changes in their sexual and desire sexual frequency, respectively. According to multiple regression analysis, it was found that satisfaction with the partner, satisfaction with marriage, economic status, emotional relationship, tobacco use, psychiatric disorders have significant relationships with sexual frequency in couples.Conclusions: According to the results, it can be concluded that there were no significant differences in sexual desire, frequency, pleasure and request in married couples during the COVID-19 outbreak.