ABSTRACT

Intimate relationships are ubiquitous and exert a strong influence on health. Widespread disruption to them may impact wellbeing at a population level. We investigated the extent to which the first COVID-19 lockdown (March 2020) affected steady relationships in Britain. In total, 6,654 participants aged 18–59 years completed a web-panel survey (July–August 2020). Quasi-representativeness was achieved via quota sampling and weighting. We explored changes in sex life and relationship quality among participants in steady relationships (n = 4,271) by age, gender, and cohabitation status, and examined factors associated with deterioration to a lower-quality relationship. A total of 64.2% of participants were in a steady relationship (of whom 88.9% were cohabiting). A total of 22.1% perceived no change in their sex-life quality, and 59.5% no change in their relationship quality. Among those perceiving change, sex-life quality was more commonly reported to decrease and relationship quality to improve. There was significant variation by age; less often by gender or cohabitation. Overall, 10.6% reported sexual difficulties that started/worsened during lockdown. In total, 6.9% reported deterioration to a ”lower quality” relationship, more commonly those: aged 18–24 and aged 35–44; not living with partner (women only); and reporting depression/anxiety and decrease in sex-life quality. In conclusion, intimate relationship quality is yet another way in which COVID-19 has led to divergence in experience.

摘要

亲密关系无处不在，对健康有很大影响。对他们的广泛破坏可能会影响人口水平的福祉。我们调查了第一次 COVID-19 封锁（2020 年 3 月）对英国稳定关系的影响程度。总共有 6,654 名 18-59 岁的参与者完成了网络面板调查（2020 年 7 月至 8 月）。准代表性是通过配额抽样和加权实现的。我们按年龄、性别和同居状况探讨了稳定关系参与者 (n = 4,271) 中性生活和关系质量的变化，并检查了与恶化为低质量关系的相关因素。共有 64.2% 的参与者处于稳定的关系中（其中 88.9% 是同居）。共有 22.1% 的人认为他们的性生活质量没有变化，59%。5% 他们的关系质量没有变化。在那些感知到变化的人中，性生活质量下降和关系质量改善的情况更为普遍。年龄差异显着；不太经常按性别或同居。总体而言，10.6% 的人报告说在锁定期间开始/恶化的性困难。总的来说，6.9% 的人报告说关系恶化到“质量较低”的关系，更常见的是：18-24 岁和 35-44 岁；不与伴侣同住（仅限女性）；报告抑郁/焦虑和性生活质量下降。总之，亲密关系质量是 COVID-19 导致体验差异的另一种方式。年龄差异显着；不太经常按性别或同居。总体而言，10.6% 的人报告说在锁定期间开始/恶化的性困难。总的来说，6.9% 的人报告说关系恶化到“质量较低”的关系，更常见的是：18-24 岁和 35-44 岁；不与伴侣同住（仅限女性）；报告抑郁/焦虑和性生活质量下降。总之，亲密关系质量是 COVID-19 导致体验差异的另一种方式。年龄差异显着；不太经常按性别或同居。总体而言，10.6% 的人报告说在锁定期间开始/恶化的性困难。总的来说，6.9% 的人报告说关系恶化到“质量较低”的关系，更常见的是：18-24 岁和 35-44 岁；不与伴侣同住（仅限女性）；报告抑郁/焦虑和性生活质量下降。总之，亲密关系质量是 COVID-19 导致体验差异的另一种方式。