THE NEED FOR INTIMACY

There is no doubt that the stresses and challenges of the last year have put pressure on relationships. For many of you, these testing times have changed the way you feel about sex. Nearly all of you say physical closeness is one of the key aspects of your relationship, and 72% of you feel intimacy and lovemaking are important. One in three (31%) rate this especially highly and regard sex and physical intimacy as very important, while slightly more (41%) describe it as quite important.

So what has changed? Nearly one in five of you (17%) say your need for physical intimacy has now become even more important. This may be perhaps because of the reassurance and closeness that sex provides.

The ongoing pandemic has had the opposite effect for a smaller number. Some 11% of you say Covid-19 and the ensuing crisis have made you feel there are more important things going on and you have less sexual desire or need for physical intimacy.

Not everyone is affected though; half of you say your love life remained unchanged in the past year, despite the pressures of the pandemic.