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A qualitative study on perceived sexual intimacy and mental health in later life during the COVID-19 pandemic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2023

S. von Humboldt ,
G. Low  and
I. Leal
S. von Humboldt*
Affiliation:
1William James Center for Research, ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
G. Low
Affiliation:
2Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
I. Leal
Affiliation:
1William James Center for Research, ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic may affect sexual intimacy and have implications for overall sexual well-being.

Objectives

This study comprised two main objectives: 1) To explore the influence of COVID-19 pandemic on older couples’ sexual intimacy; and 2) To assess how older couples’ sexual intimacy during the COVID-19 pandemic influences mental health.

Methods

The sample of this qualitative study consisted of 391 older participants (between 65 and 87 years of age).

Results

For the first objective, semi-structured interview data yielded five main themes: (1) Less sexual satisfaction (68%); (2) Less sexual desire (67%); (3) Stronger affective relationships (34%); (4) Fear of contracting physical illness (29%); and (5) Less attractiveness (23%). Three main themes concerning mental health were reported by participants: (1) Less anxiety and distress (78%); (2) Greater attention to negative emotional states (55%); and (3) Less emotional outbursts (41%).

Conclusions

The pandemic affected older adults’ sexual intimacy, mostly negatively. Less sexual satisfaction and desire were felt by these older couples. Conversely, stronger affective relationships were reported. In spite of these mostly negative influences, existing sexual intimacy was mostly linked to less perceived anxiety and distress, greater attention to negative emotional states, and less emotional outbursts. Sexual intimacy during COVID-19 has received little attention; however, these results highlight its positive contribution to mental health and therefore a relevant approach to this topic should be taken, especially in later life.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 66 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 31st European Congress of Psychiatry , March 2023 , pp. S236
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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