Making love in the time of corona — considering relationships in lockdown

• Published in: Nature reviews. Urology 2020-10, Vol.17 (10), p.547-553
• Main Authors: Dewitte, Marieke, Otten, Chantelle, Walker, Lauren
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 692/4025/1527; 692/700/478; 692/700/784; Betacoronavirus; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - prevention & control; Coronavirus Infections - transmission; Coronaviruses; Couples; COVID-19; Epidemics; Health aspects; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Pandemics; Pandemics - prevention & control; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral - prevention & control; Pneumonia, Viral - transmission; Quarantine; Quarantine - psychology; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Sex (Psychology); Sex education; Sexual Behavior - psychology; Sexual disorders; Social aspects; Social Behavior; Social Isolation - psychology; Urology; Viewpoint
• ISSN: 1759-4812; 1759-4820
• DOI: 10.1038/s41585-020-0365-1

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting social changes that were required to slow the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) have resulted in lockdowns across many countries and led to substantial numbers of people being quarantined. For single people, their opportunities to meet a partner were completely lost. For couples who lived apart, this meant that they were not able to see their partner for many months. However, by contrast, for cohabiting couples, lockdown meant that they were forced to spend 24 h a day with each other, and perhaps their children or housemates, for months at a time. As lockdowns have loosened around the world, the possibility of a second wave arises, and lockdowns are being reinstated in many regions. The prospect of potential long-term lockdowns means that adjusting to this new normal in relationships is an important consideration. In this Viewpoint, three specialists in sexology and psychology discuss the effects of lockdown on intimacy and consider how it can be considered an opportunity as well as an obstacle for making love in the time of corona. The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly put a strain on relationships. For some couples, lockdown has meant long periods of separation, whereas for others, lockdown has resulted in months of isolation together. In this Viewpoint, three experts consider the effects of the pandemic on relationships and suggest ways in which lockdown can become a positive experience for couples making love in the time of corona. The contributors Marieke Dewitte is a clinical psychologist-sexologist who had her training in Belgium and the Netherlands and completed her PhD at Ghent University, Belgium. She currently works as Assistant Professor at the Department of Clinical Psychological Science of the University of Maastricht, Netherlands. She teaches several courses and workshops on sexual responding at the university and in post-academic sexology training. Her research involves psychophysiological studies on basic mechanisms of sexual functioning, gender differences, interpersonal dynamics, dyadic interactions between partners, and attachment in relation to sexual responding. The main focus of her research is on the sexual interaction between partners. Her clinical (research) focus is on female genital pain. She also worked as a sex therapist at Ghent University Hospital and now at Maastricht University Hospital. Chantelle Otten holds a Masters in Science Medicine, Sexual H