Changes in sexual behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic: insights from the General Social Survey.

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had widespread implications on various aspects of life; however, there is a paucity of longitudinal data regarding its impact on sexual behavior. To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on changes in frequency of sexual activity and partner dynamics in the United States, we utilized data from the General Social Survey (GSS). This biannual survey of adults in the United States, provided responses from 12,791 participants, enabling a comparative analysis of sexual behaviors between pre-COVID-19 (2016 and 2018, n = 5215 respondents) and COVID-19 periods (2021 and 2022, n = 7576 respondents).