Impact of the use of sexual material and online sexual activity during preventive social isolation due to COVID-19

Introduction. Preventive social isolation due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has represented one of the greatest health challenges of the last decades worldwide. As a result of social isolation, the consumption of information in digital media, such as the use of online sexual material, has increased, leading to risky sexual behavior in young people. Objective. To quantify the impact on the use and type of online sexual material and to determine the predictors of online sexual activity in people in preventive social isolation due to COVID-19. Method. Multivariate cross-sectional study; 385 participants were studied and contacted through an online survey. Results. Internet pages and social networks are the main platforms for the use of online sexual material, and its consumption was more frequent in those who had more days of preventive social isolation. Predictors of sexual activity were cybersex ([beta] = .38), excitation ([beta] = .36), masturbation ([beta] = .34), and adventure ([beta] = .33), which were found to be statistically significant (p < .001). Discussion and conclusion. Privacy plays an important role in the use of online sexual material and activities, and greater consumption can be found in intimacy. It is important to be alert to the effects of the pandemic on sexual risk behavior and further research is needed. Keywords: Online sexual material, preventive social isolation, sexual behaviour, sexuality, COVID-19. Introduccion. El aislamiento social preventivo por la enfermedad por coronavirus (COVID-19) ha representado uno de los mayores retos de salud en las ultimas decadas en todo el mundo. Como resultado del aislamiento social se ha elevado el consumo de informacion en medios digitales, como el uso de material sexual en linea, lo que ha propiciado un comportamiento sexual de riesgo en los jovenes. Objetivo. Cuantificar el impacto en el uso y el tipo de material sexual en linea y determinar los predictores de actividades sexuales en linea en personas en aislamiento social preventivo debido al COVID-19. Metodo. Estudio multivariado de corte transversal; se estudiaron 385 participantes contactados por medio de una encuesta en linea. Resultados. Las paginas de internet y las redes sociales son las principales plataformas para el uso de material sexual en linea y este consumo se dio con mas frecuencia en quienes tenian mas dias de aislamiento social preventivo. Los predictores de las actividades sexuales fueron el cibersexo ([beta] = .38), l