sexual healing: study finds key to keeping things hot and heavy during a pandemic

people's attitudes towards sex dictated how satisfying their sex lives have been over the last two years, according to new research.

by dave yasvinski

published oct 17, 2022

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people who view sex as 'leisure' more likely to report good sex life

recent study found that people who had a strong view of sex as a leisure activity had more resilient sex lives. getty

covid-19 may have poured a pail of cold water on libidos across the land, but a new study has found that those who viewed sex as a leisure activity were more likely to enjoy a satisfying sex life during the pandemic those who did not. the research, published in the journal leisure studies, is the first to probe the way people viewed sex before and after the pandemic and how these attitudes affected the quantity and quality of sex in their lives. the poll of 675 adults from the us, the uk and canada defined “sex as leisure” as engaging in sexual activity for purposes such as recreation, relaxation, self-gratification or personal development.

“when sexual activity is pleasurable, freely chosen and intrinsically motivated, it aligns with most definitions of leisure activity,” said liza berdychevsky, a professor of recreation, sport and tourism at the university of illinois urbana-champaign. “the sex-as-leisure mindset affects sexual inhibitions, attitudes and practices and it is congruent with the view of sexual health as key to our overall wellbeing and quality of life.”

the researcher found that people who had a strong view of sex as a leisure activity had more resilient sex lives, reporting greater frequency, variety and quality of sex compared to those who did not view the activity the same way. “viewing sex as leisure minimized the negative effects of the pandemic on people’s sex lives and was linked with greater ability to reach orgasm, heightened sexual intimacy and more touching and caressing,” she said.

“these individuals used the additional time with their partners to devote more time to sexual intimacy, communication and experimentation. adopting this approach may have been a powerful means for individuals and couples to feel both safe and adventurous in their sex lives during a rather scary time.”

respondents to the poll were between the ages of 18 and 76; 66 per cent were women, 30 per cent men and 2.8 per cent identified differently. just under 70 per cent had a regular sexual partner, and 12 per cent had an occasional partner.

berdychevsky also examined the potential of sex-as-leisure to be used as a coping strategy, similar to other sexual coping mechanisms. to this end, respondents were asked whether they had engaged in any attitudinal, behavioural or technology-assisted sex-as-leisure coping mechanisms. attitudinal strategies include things such as engaging in sex for comfort, pleasure or stress relief. behavioural strategies encompass trying out new positions, toys or activities. technology-assisted strategies entail watching pornography, sexting and using social networking apps.

more than half of the respondents to the survey found sex-as-leisure to be a helpful coping mechanism, reporting heightened feelings of playfulness, creativity and spontaneity. sex proved to be a source of pleasure, relaxation and comfort for more than two out of three respondents. it was also used to relieve stress and help pass free time.

many participants used the opportunity to explore long-suppressed fantasies (20 per cent), try out new sexual positions (41 per cent), experiment with sex toys (26 per cent) or engage in bondage and domination (18 per cent) or role playing (13 per cent).

with the pandemic increasing fears of even leaving the house, technology-assisted strategies took centre stage by offering a safe outlet for sexual expression while allowing people to keep their distance. respondents said they watched porn alone (59 per cent) or with a friend (17 per cent), took sexy photos or videos (31 per cent), exchanged erotic notes or emails (25 per cent) or engaged in webcam sex (14 per cent).

ultimately, berdychevsky found that the way people felt about sex predicted whether their sex lives took off or fizzled out during the pandemic. “a strong tendency to view sex as leisure served as a protective factor against the adverse impacts of the covid-19 pandemic on people’s sex lives,” she said. “frequent and rewarding sexual activity has been associated with individuals’ greater overall enjoyment of life, quality of life and well-being.

“it is crucial not to let sexual and relational health become collateral damage of the covid-19 pandemic. public health messages educating people to view sex as leisure could help them navigate the impacts and aftermath of the pandemic in their intimate lives and improve their preparedness for future public health crises.”