Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa.
Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino.
J Epidemiol. 2021 Dec 5;31(12):648-652. doi: 10.2188/jea.JE20210055. Epub 2021 Oct 9.
To explore how sexual activity was impacted by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown measures in the general adult population.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 6,003 Italian adults aged 18-74 years who were representative of the Italian general population. Study subjects were recruited at the time of the nationwide stay-at-home order (from April 27 to May 3, 2020). We identified characteristics associated with decreased frequency of sex during lockdown, differentiating between cohabiting and non-cohabiting subjects.
Over one-third (35.3%) of Italians reported to have changed their sexual activity during lockdown (8.4% increased and 26.9% decreased). When focusing on cohabitants (N = 3,949, 65.8%), decreased sexual activity (20.7%) was more frequently reported by men (22.3%; compared to women, multivariable odds ratio 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.44), younger subjects (P for trend <0.001), more educated subjects (P for trend = 0.004), subjects living in smaller houses (P for trend = 0.003), and those reporting longer time spent outdoors before the lockdown (P for trend <0.001).
COVID-19 lockdown drastically altered people's day-to-day life and is likely to have impacted lifestyle habits and behavioral risk factors, including sexual attitudes and practice. This is the first national population-level study exploring changes in sexual life in this COVID-19 era. As we report sexual practice to have been affected by lockdown restrictions, we suggest that the mental health, social, and other determinants of these changes are to be explored beyond imposed social distancing.
探讨 2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）封锁措施对普通成年人群性行为的影响。
在意大利，对年龄在 18-74 岁之间的 6003 名成年人进行了横断面调查，他们代表了意大利的一般人群。研究对象是在全国居家令期间（2020 年 4 月 27 日至 5 月 3 日）招募的。我们确定了与封锁期间性频率降低相关的特征，区分了同居和非同居者。
超过三分之一（35.3%）的意大利人报告在封锁期间改变了性行为（8.4%增加，26.9%减少）。当关注同居者（N=3949，65.8%）时，更多的男性（22.3%；与女性相比，多变量比值比 1.23；95%置信区间，1.05-1.44）报告性活动减少，年龄较小的（P 趋势<0.001）、受教育程度较高的（P 趋势=0.004）、居住在较小房屋中的（P 趋势=0.003）和报告封锁前户外活动时间较长的（P 趋势<0.001）。
COVID-19 封锁极大地改变了人们的日常生活，可能影响了生活方式习惯和行为风险因素，包括性态度和行为。这是第一项探索 COVID-19 时代人们性生活变化的全国性人口研究。由于我们报告性实践受到封锁限制的影响，我们建议除了强制社交距离外，还应探索这些变化的心理健康、社会和其他决定因素。
