ABSTRACT. Despite the relevance of relational and sexual health during the COVID-19 lockdown, only limited research has been conducted on this topic. In this article, I cumulate previous research findings indicating that sexual activity and a gratifying sexual life have optimized physical health and quality of life throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. I contribute to the literature on sexual behavior and individuals’ intimate lives by showing that the COVID-19 outbreak has intensified social isolation and depressive symptoms, shaping romantic relationships and sexual behavior. Throughout May 2021, I performed a quantitative literature review of the Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest databases, with search terms including “sexual health + COVID-19,” “sexual activity + COVID-19,” “sexual relation + COVID-19,” “sexual behavior + COVID-19,” and “sexual life + COVID-19.” As I inspected research published in 2020 and 2021, only 378 articles satisfied the eligibility criteria. By eliminating controversial findings, outcomes unsubstantiated by replication, too imprecise material, or having similar titles, I decided upon 21, generally empirical, sources. Subsequent analyses should develop on COVID-19-related sexual functioning of individuals and couples. Future research should thus investigate how romantic and sexual experiences have optimized psychological well-being. Attention should be directed to how social and sexual contacts have been related to mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: relational; sexual; health; COVID-19; lockdown; intimacy

How to cite: Adams, D. (2021). “Relational and Sexual Health during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Cognitive, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders,” Journal of Research in Gender Studies 11(2): 46–58. doi: 10.22381/JRGS11220213.

Received 28 June 2021 • Received in revised form 24 December 2021
Accepted 26 December 2021 • Available online 30 December 2021