New Glasgow University study looks at how lockdown affected people's sex lives

A study involving academics from Glasgow University has found that lockdown affected people's sex lives in the UK 'in a variety of different ways'.

Young people and those not living with a partner reported the greatest changes, according to the research - the largest national study of sexual behaviours since the beginning of the pandemic.

Over 6,500 people aged between 18 and 59 took part in the web-panel study, which saw Glasgow academics partner with researchers from University College London and the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen).

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Data was collected between July and August 2020 and participants were asked a series of questions about their sexual behaviour (including physical and virtual activities) during the first four months of lockdown.

Altogether, 63% of adults reported having physical sex with someone after lockdown started, and of those people, three quarters (76%) said they were in cohabiting relationships.

The study involved academics from Glasgow University. (Getty)

When participants were asked how often they engaged in sexual activities, just over half (57%) of those sexually experienced (defined as those who reported ever having partnered sex) said there was no change in the number of times they had sex with a partner compared to the three months before lockdown.

However, among sexually-experienced young people aged 18-24 were more likely to report a change in their sexual frequency – around 60% reported this – and of these, two-thirds (66%) perceived this to be a decline. A similar pattern for young people was seen in how they perceived changes in their sexual satisfaction.

Participants were also asked about whether they engaged in virtual sexual activities during the first lockdown. More than half (53%) reported a virtual sexual activity such as sexting or watching pornography compared to 84% who reported some form of physical sexual activity with a partner or by themselves.

The proportion of people reporting virtual activities since lockdown was largely driven by watching pornography, reported by 65% of men and 21% of women.

To read the findings in full, click here