Research Unveils The Effect Of Lockdown On Our Sex Drives

A survey looking into the effects of the past year on our sex drives shows that over a quarter of people (25.5 per cent) stopped having sex with a partner throughout 2020.

The findings, published in The Journal Of Sex Research, asked not just about having sex but also sexual desire, watching pornography and masturbating. It found that people's sexual activity differed greatly depending on individual circumstances but in general had decreased.

This is not surprising, as due to restrictions on travel and seeing people, many people were not legally allowed to see their partners over the past year and so they could not see their partners as much as a result.

This explains why a third of people had less sex with their partner with only 20 per cent having more. Being able to see your lover was dependent on where you lived in the country, and so couples who lived together tended to have more sex.

At the same time, more people reported that they masturbated more often, either using their hand or silicone sex toys. Over a quarter (26 per cent), said that they touched themselves more often, whilst 20 per cent said they watched more pornography.

The report found that men, people in a serious relationship, and LGBT people were more likely to either have more sex, masturbate more or watch more sexual content.

People in casual relationships were especially affected as nearly every avenue to meet someone and be intimate with them were not allowed.