Our partner project TechSex led by Associate Professor Jennifer Power has published its first paper from the Sex and Intimacy During COVID-19 study.
'Traversing TechSex: benefits and risks in digitally mediated sex and relationships' has been published in the journal Sexual Health.
Image ©danielkorpai at Unsplash. Image is of a laptop computer with a dark background. Light radiates from the screen.
What’s the paper about?
This study explored digital sexual practices, including perceptions of risks and
benefits among a quantitative survey of Australian adults during the first few COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in Australia.
Findings revealed that use of digital media was common in participants’ sex lives and relationships:
60.3% of participants had viewed pornography online
34.9% had used dating apps
33.9% had sent sexual or naked self-images to another person
Over one in three reported positive outcomes from these practices:
38.2% felt emotionally connected to their partners due to online communication
38.0% agreed that digital technologies facilitated closer connections
However, the majority of participants were aware of potential risks associated with online sexual engagement. Women were more likely to be concerned than men.
The paper concludes with a note that policy, legal, and educational responses require a holistic understanding of digital sexual engagement. This includes recognising the ways in which technologies can support sexual relationships and building capacity to manage risk.
Where can I read it?
You can read a great summary of the article in The Conversation! Or, you can access it for free here. You can also get in touch with the TechSex team for a copy!
Citation:
Power, J., Moor, L., Anderson, J., Waling, A., James, A., Shackelton, N., Farrell, AM., Agnew, E., Dowsett, G .(2022). Traversing TechSex: Benefits and risks in digitally mediated sex and relationships. Sexual Health. DOI: 10.1071/SH21220
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