Sexual Activity in Adolescents and Young Adults through COVID-19 Pandemic

Stavridou, Androniki; Samiakou, Chrysa; Kourti, Anastasia; Tsiorou, Stauroula; Panagouli, Eleni; Thirios, Athanasios; Psaltopoulou, Theodora; Sergentanis, Theodoros N.; Tsitsika, Artemis

doi:10.3390/children8070577

Open AccessPerspective

Sexual Activity in Adolescents and Young Adults through COVID-19 Pandemic

by

Androniki Stavridou

¹

,

Chrysa Samiakou

¹,

Anastasia Kourti

¹

,

Stauroula Tsiorou

¹,

Eleni Panagouli

¹

,

Athanasios Thirios

¹,

Theodora Psaltopoulou

²,

Theodoros N. Sergentanis

^1,2,†

and

Artemis Tsitsika

^1,*,†

¹

2nd Department of Pediatrics, “P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece

²

Department of Clinical Therapeutics, “Alexandra” Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 28 Athens, Greece

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this manuscript.

Children 2021, 8(7), 577; https://doi.org/10.3390/children8070577

Submission received: 16 May 2021 / Revised: 2 July 2021 / Accepted: 3 July 2021 / Published: 5 July 2021

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Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been postulated that the sexual life of adolescent and young adults has been impacted in various aspects, potentially affecting their well-being. Our aim is to investigate the potential changes in the sexual activity and relationships of adolescents and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. In general, a decrease in sexual desire was reported during the COVID-19 pandemic, in both genders. Fewer sexual intercourses and bonding behaviors between partners were associated with loneliness and depressive symptoms. On the contrary, an increase in sexual desire was expressed in a few people, with masturbation to be the most preferable means of satisfaction. The present paper highlights the multifaceted impact of COVID-19 upon the sexual life of adolescents and young adults during the ongoing pandemic. The changes observed in their sexual activity and relationships, could provide the basis of future preventive and educational programs.

Keywords: COVID-19; sexual health; adolescents; young adults

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MDPI and ACS Style

Stavridou, A.; Samiakou, C.; Kourti, A.; Tsiorou, S.; Panagouli, E.; Thirios, A.; Psaltopoulou, T.; Sergentanis, T.N.; Tsitsika, A. Sexual Activity in Adolescents and Young Adults through COVID-19 Pandemic. Children 2021, 8, 577. https://doi.org/10.3390/children8070577

AMA Style

Stavridou A, Samiakou C, Kourti A, Tsiorou S, Panagouli E, Thirios A, Psaltopoulou T, Sergentanis TN, Tsitsika A. Sexual Activity in Adolescents and Young Adults through COVID-19 Pandemic. Children. 2021; 8(7):577. https://doi.org/10.3390/children8070577

Chicago/Turabian Style

Stavridou, Androniki, Chrysa Samiakou, Anastasia Kourti, Stauroula Tsiorou, Eleni Panagouli, Athanasios Thirios, Theodora Psaltopoulou, Theodoros N. Sergentanis, and Artemis Tsitsika. 2021. "Sexual Activity in Adolescents and Young Adults through COVID-19 Pandemic" Children 8, no. 7: 577. https://doi.org/10.3390/children8070577

APA Style

Stavridou, A., Samiakou, C., Kourti, A., Tsiorou, S., Panagouli, E., Thirios, A., Psaltopoulou, T., Sergentanis, T. N., & Tsitsika, A. (2021). Sexual Activity in Adolescents and Young Adults through COVID-19 Pandemic. Children, 8(7), 577. https://doi.org/10.3390/children8070577

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Sexual Activity in Adolescents and Young Adults through COVID-19 Pandemic

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