Table 1.
Review of the studies.
| Authors/Reference | Main findings | Sample size | Research nature and approach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arafat et al., 2020a | Individuals are involving in panic buying due to scarcity, increased demand, anticipation of price hike, and importance of products. Furthermore, other factors could be psychological, social learning, past experience, government action, and lack of trust | 784 reports | Qualitative |
| Banerjee and Rao (2020) | Digital intimacy is an effective way of closeness in relationships | Undefined | Quantitative |
| Döring (2020) | COVID-19 has dramatically changed the daily life and there is a need to look in the implications of the pandemic | N/A | Commentary |
| Gondwal et al. (2020) | The authors reported gradual decreases in vaginal sex, at the same time anal sex increased. | 290 | Quantitative |
| Hensel et al. (2020) | Decreased in sexual activity and change in sexual behavior due to depression, and loneliness. “Bonding behaviors such as hugging, cuddling, holding hands and kissing, as well as reduced partnered sexual behaviors, such as oral sex, partnered genital touching and vaginal sex” |
1010 | Quantitative |
| Lara et al. (2020) | There is a need for both qualitative and quantitative studied to be conducted on mental and the quality of life during the pandemic | N/A | Letter to editor |
| Maretti et al. (2020) | COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected the quality of life by changing inter-personal relationships, sexual health and community life. Sex toys can be used if washed and disinfected before use. There is a need to avoid any contact with outsiders except close contact. | Undefined | Undefined |
| Naik (2020) | You are, your safest sex partner. Solo sex or masturbation is quite safe and satisfying option as it does not transmit COVID-19 | N/A | Correspondence |
| Shilo and Mor (2020) | Participants spent more time in dating applications than in the pre–social-distancing period and increased their use of sex phone, webcams, and porn consumption | 2562 | Quantitative |
| Vora et al. (2020) | COVID-19 has worsened the domestic violence | N/A | Letter to editor |
| Aoki and Kimura (2021) | Culture, religion, and human figures has an effect on sex | 39 | Quantitative |
| Arafat and Kar (2021) | Individuals during the pandemic buy sex-toys in responses to perceived short supply, the anticipation of price hike, and perceived scarcity. | Undefined | Undefined |
| Balzarini et al. (2021) | During early stage of pandemic participants had more sex, while later it will decrease due to increase in stress, loneliness, financial strain, or worry. | 4993 | Qualitative |
| Ballester-Arnal et al. (2021) | Lockdown has affected nearly half of the populations | 1448 | Mixed |
| Blackwell (2021) | The study observed that there is risk of COVID-19 transmission through kissing, oral sex and anal receptive | 50,439 | Qualitative |
| Bourne et al. (2021) | Participants involved in masturbation and pornography. In addition, they have sex on weekly basis, while before pandemic it is more than once a week | 499 | Quantitative |
| Bowling et al. (2021) | The pandemic has changed the way of living, sex desire, and time spent with partners | 306 | Qualitative |
| Cascalheira et al. (2021) | Most of the participants involved in at least one solitary sexual practice, women were involved. more than men. | 565 | Quantitative |
| Collar et al. (2021) | Women use and share sexual enrichment aids or sex toys with their sexual partners | 800 | Mixed |
| Coombe et al. (2021) | Participants reported less sex in 2020 relative to 2017. More had sex with spouse relative to boy/girlfriend. In addition, solo sex activities increased. Use of sex toys increased. Dating apps for chatting/texting, and setting up virtual dates increased. | 1187 | Qualitative |
| Eleuteri and Terzitta (2021) | Using the Internet to maintain active sexual activity appeared to be an excellent alternative to diminish the distance between partners or to increase online knowledge. | N/A | Clarification |
| Giami (2021) | Electronic devices provide support for the imagination and maintain sexual arousal for personal satisfaction | 12 articles | Review |
| Gil-Llario et al. (2021) | Lockdown increased the sexual appetite of participants; Individuals were involved in sending their nude images and watch pornography during pandemic. | 73 | Qualitative |
| Gleason et al. (2021) | Sex with partners have been decreased, increases in masturbation and pornography use. | 1051 | Quantitative |
| Hashem et al. (2021) | COVID-19 affected both mental and social interaction | Undefined | Qualitative |
| Hille et al. (2021) | Partnered participants masturbated significantly less during physical distancing measures compared to the period before, whereas single males masturbated more often. | 1017 (Single) 1498 (Partnered) |
Quantitative |
| Lau et al. (2021) | A stronger COVID-pornography use association was observed with increased social distancing awareness | Undefined | Qualitative |
| Lehmiller et al. (2021) | Decrease in sex life, involve in sexual behavior by using new ways | 1599 | Quantitative |
| Mahanty et al. (2021) | The proportion of watching porn videos, depression, and desire for parenthood and sexual intercourse increased among women and found significant. While, smoking, drinking alcohol, and anxiety increased among men. | 262 | Quantitative |
| Melca et al. (2021) | Digital devices and social media usage have changed the sexual behavior | 1357 | Quantitative |
| Pennanen-Iire et al. (2021) | Sexual activities have a significant influence on psychological health, immune response, and could mitigate psychosocial stressors. | Undefined | Review |
| Pereira (2021) | Respondents reported that they had sex to pay for food, daily expenses, and utilities bills | 13 | Qualitative |
| Rodrigues (2021) | Participants reported that due to solitary and online sex their quality of sex life and intimacy improved. | 303 | Quantitative |
| Sansone et al. (2021) | Study evidenced that pornography use increased after pandemic relative to before. | Undefined | Qualitative |
| Wiratno (2021) | Sexual activities and use of sex toys have been increased | 26 YouTube channels | Qualitative |
| Wood et al. (2021) | Results evidenced that solitary sexual remained unchanged or were perceived to increase during pandemic. | 1504 | Quantitative |
| Duguay et al. (2022) | Usage of virtual dating app increases during pandemic | Undefined | Qualitative |
| Ellakany et al. (2022) | Due to pandemic, there is a change in sleep, increase in sexual activities, screen use, and food intake. | 17,008 | Quantitative |
| Federici et al. (2022) | The study revealed a generally depressed emotional experience associated with the experience of lockdown, both in terms of desire, which seemed to be shifted more to the level of imagination and fantasies, and the actual possibility of experiencing sexual activity as usual. | 465 | Mixed |
| Goller et al. (2022) | Partnered sex reduced by pandemic and dating apps usage was increased during pandemic | 1828 | Qualitative |
| Masoudi et al. (2022) | Decrease in sexual relations and increases in the frequency of solo sex activity, especially masturbation. | 21 studies | Review |
| Montanaro et al. (2022) | Increased in stress, amount of time with partners, use of technology, and self-exploration. | 260 | Quantitative |
| Nessaibia et al. (2022) | Digital environments qualified as “virtual” that can provide safe contexts for erotic imagination and intimacy while both communicating and maintaining arousal. Together, they offer a vehicle for fantasy and entertainment of sexual arousal towards private pleasure. | N/A | Commentary |
| Eleuteri et al. (2022) | COVID-19 worsening of sexual life seems to be related to couples’ conflict, emotions and psychological difficulties, being female, being single or away from the partner, being a health care worker, and having children | 18 | Review |
| Szuster et al. (2022) | Sexual activities increased during pandemic. However, it was higher in first wave than in second wave of pandemic. | 1644 | Quantitative |