“Making peace” with bodies and sexual selves : changes during COVID-19 among adults in the United States

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Bowling, J., Basinger, E., & Montanaro, E. (2021). “Making peace” with bodies and sexual selves : changes during COVID-19 among adults in the United States. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health. https://doi.org/doi:10.3390/ijerph182111063
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Description

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the physical and mental health of many and has necessitated widespread societal shifts, including changes to work and family activities. These changes have impacted individuals’ identity, including their sexual self-image and body image, yet research on perceptions of these changes is missing. This study reports on quantitative and qualitative data from an electronic survey with adults in the United States (N = 326) to examine these perceptions. Body appreciation did not significantly differ between demographic groups. Themes emerging from the qualitative results included changes in general self-image (becoming more restricted or disempowered), changes in sexual self-image (deepening, becoming more sexy/sexual, or less sexy/sexual), and changes in body image (positive, negative, and neutral). Our findings point to positive, negative, and neutral effects on sexual self-image and body image, implying that nuanced approaches are needed to understand how identity has transformed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Details
Title

“Making peace” with bodies and sexual selves : changes during COVID-19 among adults in the United States

Author(s)

Bowling, Jessamyn
Basinger, Erin
Montanaro, Erika

UNC Charlotte Affiliate Type

Faculty

Publisher

MDPI

Extent

1 online resource

Date Published

2021

Material Type

Journal article

Genre

articles

Resource Type

text

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the physical and mental health of many and has necessitated widespread societal shifts, including changes to work and family activities. These changes have impacted individuals’ identity, including their sexual self-image and body image, yet research on perceptions of these changes is missing. This study reports on quantitative and qualitative data from an electronic survey with adults in the United States (N = 326) to examine these perceptions. Body appreciation did not significantly differ between demographic groups. Themes emerging from the qualitative results included changes in general self-image (becoming more restricted or disempowered), changes in sexual self-image (deepening, becoming more sexy/sexual, or less sexy/sexual), and changes in body image (positive, negative, and neutral). Our findings point to positive, negative, and neutral effects on sexual self-image and body image, implying that nuanced approaches are needed to understand how identity has transformed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Subjects--Topics

COVID-19 (Disease)
Body image

Is Part Of

International journal of environmental research and public health

Language

English

Published Version (Please cite this version)

doi:10.3390/ijerph182111063

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/work:203

Rights

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