The assumption was that lots of people would spend their newfound free time having hot, passionate sex.
Surely that would lead to a lot of breakups.
Finally, we had hot vax summer.
But none of this actually happened.
For one, instead of igniting sexual fires, the pandemic cooled many of us way down.
But it also seems to have strengthened relationships and encouraged sexual exploration.
social psychologist, research fellow at the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, and founder of the blogSex and Psychology
Here are some of the ways our sex lives have changed since March of 2020:
1.
These results arent too surprising.
There are a couple of big reasons people may have had less sex than they did pre-pandemic.
The prediction that everyone would have lots of sex, overlooked couples who had children at home.
Instead of sexual pleasure, many of us focused on basic needs.
But this prediction ignores both the libido-killing stress of the pandemic and the existence of very effective contraceptives.
Its Amazing How Its All Connected.
And it became even less common during the pandemic.
Couples are communicating more
Not everything about the way COVID-19 changed our relationships was doom and gloom.
social psychologist, research fellow at the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, and founder of the blogSex and Psychology
In fact, the data imply that many couples learned how to communicate more effectively during the pandemic.
Instead of the predicted divorce boom, people figured out how to make their relationships work.
The pandemic really tested people in ways they hadnt been tested before, Dr. Lehmiller says.
And it prompted a lot of people to have more meaningful conversations about their relationships and what they want.
Of course, there were still breakups and divorces, but the overall trend for relationships was surprisingly positive.
It suggests that our relationships are more resilient than we give them credit for, Dr. Lehmiller says.
Its wonderful to see more couples speaking candidly.
The data shows that many people tried sex toys for the first time during the pandemic.
People got more sexually exploratory in a lot of ways, Dr. Lehmiller says.
As of 2020,only about one in three Americans hadeverdated online, Dr. Lehmiller says.
Yet, the pandemic likely added fuel to the trend.
Dr. Lehmillers data finds that many people tried online dating for the first time during the pandemic.
People are having longer, more meaningful and intimate conversations online.
Now, people are taking the time to really get to know someone online first.
Theres a rise also in virtual dates, which helps them test the waters before meeting someone in person.
So I think the model for relationships going forward is shifting, Dr. Lehmiller says.
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