%0 Journal Article
%T Changes in Solo and Partnered Sexual Behaviors following the First COVID-19 Wave: Data from an International Study of 26 Countries.
%A Hensel DJ
%A Mark KP
%A Abdelhamed A
%A Burns S
%A Esho T
%A Hendriks J
%A Jobim Fischer V
%A Ivanova O
%A Marks M
%A Michelsen K
%A Nimby F
%A Strizzi J
%A Tucker J
%A Uhlich M
%A Erausquin JT
%J Int J Sex Health
%V 35
%N 3
%D 2023
%M 38601728
%F 2.152
%R 10.1080/19317611.2023.2224777
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>To determine individual- and country-level factors associated with self-reported changes in solo and partnered sexual behaviors in an international sample of adults during COVID-19.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Data were from the International Sexual Health And REproductive Health during COVID-19 study (I-SHARE)-a cross-sectional, multi-country study (N = 26 countries) assessing adult (N = 19,654) sexual/reproductive health before and during the first wave of COVID-19. We examined self-reported changes (three-point scale: decreased, no change, increased) in solo masturbation, hugging/holding hands/cuddling with a partner, sex with a primary partner, sex with a casual partner, sexting with a partner, viewing sexually explicit media and partnered cybersex. Ordinal regression assessed the impact of individual (age, gender- and sexual-identity, romantic partnership status, employment and income stability, household change and content, mental well-being, changes in alcohol use, and changes in marijuana use) and country-level (e.g., Oxford Stringency Index, Human Development Index, and the Palma Ratio) factors on behavior change.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The most common behavior to increase was hugging, kissing, or cuddling with a partner (21.5%), and the most common behavior to decrease was sex with a main partner (36.7%). Household factors like job/income instability and having children over the age of 12 years were significantly associated with decreased affectionate and sexual partnered sexual behaviors; more frequent substance use was linked to significantly increased solo, partnered, and virtual sexual behaviors.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Understanding changes in sexual behaviors-as well as the factors that make changes more or less likely among adults around the world-are important to ensure adequate sexual health support development for future public health emergencies.