The scientific evidence suggests that COVID-19 is affecting much more than the physical health of individuals, particularly in places where a lockdown has been established to slow down the spread of the virus. An area that may be particularly affected is human sexuality. This study explored the impact of the situation generated by COVID-19 on the sexuality of 201 adults living in Spain. We collected data cross-sectionally through an online survey during the month of April 2020. Results showed a reduction of sexual self-esteem and a decrease in the number of interpersonal sexual relations, although the frequency of masturbation and the consumption of pornography did not vary compared to previous levels. A regression analysis showed that masturbation, the ability to maintain sexual arousal and interpersonal sex were mediating variables in the relationship between gender – specifically being male – and having higher sexual self-esteem during the lockdown. This study provides new insight on the relevance of certain sexual behaviors in a pandemic situation with considerable social restrictions and on the effect of this situation on sexual self-esteem and arousal. It brings some clarity on the relationship between sexual self-esteem and gender, about which there is currently no consensus in the scientific literature.

科学证据表明，COVID-19 对个人身体健康的影响远不止于此，尤其是在已建立封锁以减缓病毒传播的地方。可能受到特别影响的一个领域是人类的性行为。本研究探讨了 COVID-19 产生的情况对居住在西班牙的 201 名成年人的性行为的影响。我们在 2020 年 4 月通过在线调查收集了横断面数据。结果显示，性自尊心降低，人际关系数量减少，尽管手淫的频率和色情内容的消费没有变化与之前的水平相比。回归分析表明，手淫，维持性唤起和人际交往的能力是性别（特别是男性）与封锁期间更高的性自尊之间关系的中介变量。这项研究为某些性行为在具有相当大的社会限制的大流行情况下的相关性以及这种情况对性自尊和性唤起的影响提供了新的见解。它使性自尊与性别之间的关系更加清晰，目前科学文献中对此还没有达成共识。这项研究为某些性行为在具有相当大的社会限制的大流行情况下的相关性以及这种情况对性自尊和性唤起的影响提供了新的见解。它使性自尊与性别之间的关系更加清晰，目前科学文献中对此还没有达成共识。这项研究为某些性行为在具有相当大的社会限制的大流行情况下的相关性以及这种情况对性自尊和性唤起的影响提供了新的见解。它使性自尊与性别之间的关系更加清晰，目前科学文献中对此还没有达成共识。