Perceived Changes Due to COVID-19 Pandemic in Sexual Activity, Sexual Satisfaction, and Life Satisfaction among Indonesian Adults

Astridiah Primacita Ramadhani; Elizabeth Kristi Poerwandari

doi:10.21512/humaniora.v13i1.7492

Authors

Astridiah Primacita Ramadhani Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Indonesia
Elizabeth Kristi Poerwandari Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6648-607X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21512/humaniora.v13i1.7492

Keywords:

sexual activity, sexual satisfaction, life satisfaction, COVID-19, Indonesian adults

Abstract

The research sought to find out more about the perceived changes and relationships between sexual activities, sexual satisfaction, and life satisfaction of sexually active Indonesian adults before the pandemic (February 2019 - February 2020) and during the pandemic (March 2020 - June 2020). The research applied a cross-sectional method. An online questionnaire was conducted once in June 2020 to collect the data from 1.006 samples aged 18 to 64. Analysis using paired sample t-test shows a significant decrease due to the COVID-19 pandemic in various sexual activities, including cuddling, non-penetrative sex, masturbation sex, oral sex, and penetrative sex, but not in sexting. The results also show a significant decrease in sexual and life satisfaction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic, sexual satisfaction, and life satisfaction are positively and significantly correlated in sexually active Indonesian adults. The results of the research indicate that sexual life is still an important aspect, especially when dealing with stressful life events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dimensions

Plum Analytics

References

Alford, J. (2020, July 31). New report highlights the impact of COVID-19 on life satisfaction worldwide. Retrieved from https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/201034/new-report-highlights-impact-covid-19-life/.

Ammar, A., Chtourou, H., Boukhris, O., Trabelsi, K., Masmoudi, L., Brach, M., Bouaziz, B., Bentlage, E., How, D., Ahmed, M., Mueller, P., Mueller, N., Hsouna, H., Aloui, A., Hammouda, O., Paineiras-Domingos, L. L., Braakman-Jansen, A., Wrede, C., Bastoni, S., … Hoekelmann, A. (2020). Covid-19 home confinement negatively impacts social participation and life satisfaction: A worldwide multicenter study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(17), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176237.

Amundsen, R. (2020). Hetero-sexting as mediated intimacy work: Putting something on the line. New Media and Society, 24(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1461444820962452.

Arafat, S. M. Y., Alradie-Mohamed, A., Kar, S. K., Sharma, P., & Kabir, R. (2020). Does COVID-19 pandemic affect sexual behavior? A cross-sectional, cross-national online survey. Psychiatry Research, 289, 113050. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113050.

Borji, M., Molavi, S., & Rahimi, Z. (2016). The effect of sexual satisfaction on the quality of life on patients with cardiovascular disease. International Journal of Medical Research & Health Sciences, 5(12), 70-75.

Bridgland, V. M. E., Moeck, E. K., Green, D. M., Swain, T. L., Nayda, D. M., Matson, L. A., Hutchison, N. P., & Takarangi, M. K. T. (2021). Why the COVID-19 pandemic is a traumatic stressor? PLOS ONE, 16(1), e0240146. https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0240146.

Brody, S., & Costa, R. M. (2009). Satisfaction (sexual, life, relationship, and mental health) is associated directly with penile-vaginal intercourse, but inversely with other sexual behavior frequencies. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 6(7), 1947-1954. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01303.x

Buczak-Stec, E., König, H. H., & Hajek, A. (2019). The link between sexual satisfaction and subjective well-being: A longitudinal perspective based on the German Ageing Survey. Quality of Life Research, 28(11), 3025-3035. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-019-02235-4.

Davison, J., & Huntington, A. (2010). “Out of sight”: Sexuality and women with enduring mental illness. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 19(4), 240-249. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0349.2010.00676.x.

Diener, E., Emmons, R., & Larsen, R. J. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assesment, 49(1), 71-75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13.

Dogan, T., Tugut, N., & Golbasi, Z. (2013). The relationship between sexual quality of life, happiness, and satisfaction with life in married Turkish women. Sexuality and Disability, 31(3), 239-247. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-013-9302-z.

Domènech-Abella, J., Lara, E., Rubio-Valera, M., Olaya, B., Moneta, M. V., Rico-Uribe, L. A., Ayuso-Mateos, J. L., Mundó, J., & Haro, J. M. (2017). Loneliness and depression in the elderly: The role of social network. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 52(4), 381-390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1339-3.

Drouin, M., Coupe, M., & Temple, J. R. (2017). Is sexting good for your relationship? It depends…. Computers in Human Behavior, 75, 749-756. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.06.018.

Fakoya, O. A., McCorry, N. K., & Donnelly, M. (2020). Loneliness and social isolation interventions for older adults: A scoping review of reviews. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-8251-6.

Frederick, D. A., Lever, J., Gillespie, B. J., & Garcia, J. R. (2017). What keeps passion alive? Sexual satisfaction is associated with sexual communication, mood setting, sexual variety, oral sex, orgasm, and sex frequency in a national U.S. study. Journal of Sex Research, 54(2), 186-201. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2015.1137854.

Gruber, J., Prinstein, M. J., Abramowitz, J. S., Albano, A. M., Aldao, A., Borelli, J. L., Chung, T., Clark, L. A., Davila, J., Forbes, E. E., Gee, D. G., Hall, G. C. N., Hallion, L. S., Hinshaw, S. P., Hofmann, S. G., Hollon, S. D., Joormann, J., Kazdin, A. E., Klein, D. N., … Weinstock, L. M. (2020). Mental health and clinical psychological science in the time of COVID-19: Challenges, opportunities, and a call to action. Retrieved from https://psyarxiv.com/desg9/.

Hensel, D., Rosenberg, M., Luetke, M., Fu, T., & Herbenick, D. (2020). Changes in solo and partnered sexual behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from a U.S. probability survey. Retrieved from https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.09.20125609v2.full.pdf.

Hipp, L., Bünning, M., Munnes, S., & Sauermann, A. (2020). Problems and pitfalls of retrospective survey questions in COVID-19 studies. Survey Research Methods, 14(2), 109-114. https://doi.org/10.18148/SRM/2020.V14I2.7741.

Hudson, H. K., & Marshall, S. A. (2018). Consequences and predictors of sexting among selected Southern undergraduates. International Journal of Sexual Health, 30(1), 20-27. https://doi.org/10.1080/19317611.2017.1404540.

Jawed-Wessel, S., Santo, J., & Irwin, J. (2019). Sexual activity and attitudes as predictors of sexual satisfaction during pregnancy: A multi‑level model describing the sexuality of couples in the first 12 weeks. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 48, 843-854. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-018-1317-1.

Jiao, T., Chen, J., & Niu, Y. (2019). Masturbation is associated with psychopathological and reproduction health conditions: An online survey among campus male students. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681994.2019.1677883.

Karyani, A. K., Matin, B. K., Gebru, A. A., Dizaj, J. Y., & Rezaei, S. (2019). Life and health satisfaction and their association toward health-related quality of life, body mass index and chronic diseases in Iran. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 8(1), 1-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_204_18.

Klettke, B., Hallford, D. J., Clancy, E., Mellor, D. J., & Toumbourou, J. W. (2019). Sexting and psychological distress: The role of unwanted and coerced sexts. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 22(4), 237-242. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2018.0291.

Kocatepe, V. (2020). The acceptance of illness and life satisfaction of individuals with chronic disease. International Journal of Caring, 13(3), 1744-1751.

Lefkowitz, E. S., Vasilenko, S. A., & Leavitt, C. E. (2016). Oral vs. vaginal sex experiences and consequences among first-year college students. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 45(2), 329-337. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10508-015-0654-6.

Lehmiller, J. J., Garcia, J. R., Gesselman, A. N., & Mark, K. P. (2021). Less sex, but more sexual diversity: Changes in sexual behavior during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Leisure Sciences, 43(1-2), 295-304. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2020.1774016.

Li, W., Li, G., Xin, C., Wang, Y., & Yang, S. (2020). Challenges in the practice of sexual medicine in the time of COVID-19 in China. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 17(7), 1225-1228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.04.380.

Matotek, L., Howard, D., Clancy, E. M., Fuelscher, I., & Klettke, B. (2021). Sexting and relationship satisfaction among emerging adults: Dispelling the myth. Sexuality & Culture, 25(4), 1192-1203. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-021-09832-x.

Miller, D. J., McBain, K. A., Li, W. W., & Raggatt, P. T. F. (2019). Pornography, preference for porn‐like sex, masturbation, and men’s sexual and relationship satisfaction. Personal Relationships, 26(1), 93-113. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12267.

Miller, K. (2020). The effect of solo-masturbation and moral disapproval on the relationship between internet pornography use, religious struggles, sexual shame, and depression: A moderated mediation model (Doctoral Dissertations and Projects). Retrieved form https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/2765.

Muise, A., Schimmack, U., & Impett, E. A. (2016). Sexual frequency predicts greater well-being, but more is not always better. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 7(4), 295-302. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550615616462.

Myers, D. G., & Diener, E. (1995). Who is happy? Psychological Science, 6(1), 10-19. https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1467-9280.1995.tb00298.x.

Oriza, I. I. D., & Hanipraja, M. A. (2020). Sexting and sexual satisfaction on young adults in romantic relationship. Psychological Research on Urban Society, 3(1), 30-39. https://doi.org/10.7454/proust.v3i1.61.

Panzeri, M., Ferrucci, R., Cozza, A., & Fontanesi, L. (2020). Changes in sexuality and quality of couple relationship during the COVID-19 lockdown. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.565823.

Perry, S. L. (2020). Is the link between pornography use and relational happiness really more about masturbation? Results from two national surveys. Journal of Sex Research, 57(1), 64-76. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2018.1556772.

Randall, A. K., Leon, G., Basili, E., Martos, T., Boiger, M., Baldi, M., Hocker, L., Kline, K., Masturzi, A., Aryeetey, R., Bar-Kalifa, E., Boon, S. D., Botella, L., Burke, T., Carnelley, K., Carr, A., Dash, A., Fitriana, M., Gaines, S. O., … Chiarolanza, C. (2021). Coping with global uncertainty: Perceptions of COVID-19 psychological distress, relationship quality, and dyadic coping for romantic partners across 27 countries. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 39(1), 3-33. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075211034236.

Regnerus, M., Price, J., & Gordon, D. (2017). Masturbation and partnered sex: Substitutes or complements? Archives of Sexual Behavior, 46(7), 2111-2121. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-017-0975-8.

Rosella, L. C., Fu, L., Buajitti, E., & Goel, V. (2019). Death and chronic disease risk associated with poor life satisfaction: A population-based cohort study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 188(2), 323-331. https://doi.org/10.1093/AJE/KWY245.

Saini, R., Saini, S., & Sharma, S. (2010). Oral sex, oral health and orogenital infections. Journal of Global Infectious Diseases, 2(1), 57-62. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-777x.59252.

Salari, N., Hosseinian-Far, A., Jalali, R., Vaisi-Raygani, A., Rasoulpoor, S., Mohammadi, M., Rasoulpoor, S., & Khaledi-Paveh, B. (2020). Prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Globalization and Health, 16(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-020-00589-w.

Saputra, R. (2020, April 29). “Porn doesn’t even spark joy anymore”: Alone and sexually frustrated amid COVID-19 pandemic. Retrieved from https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2020/04/28/porn-doesnt-even-spark-joy-anymore-alone-and-sexually-frustrated-amid-covid-19-pandemic.html.

Schmiedeberg, C., Huyer-May, B., Castiglioni, L., & Johnson, M. D. (2017). The more or the better? How sex contributes to life satisfaction. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 46(2), 465-473. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-016-0843-y.

Skałacka, K., & Gerymski, R. (2019). Sexual activity and life satisfaction in older adults. Psychogeriatrics, 19(3), 195-201. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyg.12381.

Słowik, A., Jabłoński, M., Michałowska-Kaczmarczyk, A., & Jach, R. (2017). Evaluation of quality of life in women with breast cancer, with particular emphasis on sexual satisfaction, future perspectives and body image, depending on the method of surgery. Psychiatria Polska, 51(5), 871-888. https://doi.org/10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/63787.

Stephenson, K. R., & Meston, C. M. (2015). The conditional importance of sex: Exploring the association between sexual well-being and life satisfaction. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 41(1), 25-38. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2013.811450.

Træen, B., Štulhofer, A., Janssen, E., Carvalheira, A. A., Hald, G. M., Lange, T., & Graham, C. (2019). Sexual activity and sexual satisfaction among older adults in four European countries. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 48(3), 815-829. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-018-1256-x.

Van Ouytsel, J., Punyanunt-Carter, N. M., Walrave, M., & Ponnet, K. (2020). Sexting within young adults’ dating and romantic relationships. Current Opinion in Psychology, 36, 55-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.COPSYC.2020.04.007.

Velten, J., & Margraf, J. (2017). Satisfaction guaranteed? How individual, partner, and relationship factors impact sexual satisfaction within partnerships. PLoS ONE, 12(2), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0172855.

Wang, C., Pan, R., Wan, X., Tan, Y., Xu, L., Ho, C. S., & Ho, R. C. (2020). Immediate psychological responses and associated factors during the initial stage of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic among the general population in China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(5), 1-25. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051729.

Wood, J. R., Mckay, A., Komarnicky, T., & Milhausen, R. R. (2016). Was it good for you too? An analysis of gender differences in oral sex practices and pleasure ratings among heterosexual Canadian university students. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 25(1), 21-29. https://doi.org/10.3138/cjhs.251-A2.

Wright, P. J., Paul, B., Herbenick, D., & Tokunaga, R. S. (2021). Pornography and sexual dissatisfaction: The role of pornographic arousal, upward pornographic comparisons, and preference for pornographic masturbation. Human Communication Research, 47(2), 192-214. https://doi.org/10.1093/HCR/HQAB001.

Zhang, S. X., Wang, Y., Rauch, A., & Wei, F. (2020). Unprecedented disruption of lives and work: Health, distress and life satisfaction of working adults in China one month into the COVID-19 outbreak. Psychiatry Research, 288, 112958. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112958.

Zhu, X., & Shek, D. T. L. (2021). Problem behavior and life satisfaction in early adolescence: Longitudinal findings in a Chinese context. Journal of Happiness Studies, 22, 2889-2914. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-020-00346-1.