by “More compulsive” use of social media increases the likelihood of sexual problems in men and women, such as sexual dissatisfaction or erectile dysfunction, a study has found.m study of Ispa-Institute University of Lisbon (ISPA).
Conducted by Rui Miguel Costa, a scientist at the William James Research Center at ISPA, the study concludes that “the greater the degree of dependence on social networks, the greater the likelihood of having sexual problems.”
In men, there was a greater risk of erectile dysfunction and sexual dissatisfaction, and in women a greater risk of difficulties in arousal and orgasm, as well as sexual dissatisfaction and pain during intercourse, the researcher told Lusa news agency. , which the research recently published in the scientific journal Journal of Sexual Medicine.
The study was conducted between 2019 and 2021 and focused on the youth (18-30 years old) and heterosexual age group, the researcher said, adding that the sample had 1486 participants.
Regarding the purpose of the research, Rui Miguel Costa began by explaining that, in recent years, there has been “a series of studies” that show that the too frequent use of social networks causes emotional problems, anxiety, depression and loneliness.
“What’s not well known, or at least there hasn’t been much willingness to ask the question, is whether heavy social media use also affects sexual function,” he said, noting that there have only been two studies done on this topic. , one in Iran and another in Poland, which found that “very frequent use of social networks was actually associated with sexual problems.”
The study carried out in Portugal had similar aims, trying to “understand whether more problematic, more compulsive use of social networks is related to sexual problems”. The problem, it turns out, affects both men and women, the researcher said, noting that previous studies had only assessed female sexual problems.
Although the mechanisms that explain this situation are not yet clear, Rui Miguel Costa said that “something needs to be investigated in the future” and that the study points to the possibility of dependence on social networks by reducing the attention given to the partner, creating . feelings of emotional withdrawal, with a negative impact on sexual function.
“It is also possible that the risk of sexual problems increases by stress and psychological distress that social networks sometimes cause, and these two explanations are not mutually exclusive,” he stressed.
a toxic effect
Rui Miguel Costa considers it necessary to moderate the use of social networks and that users “begin to realize that there is a toxic effect in their excessive use, such as alcohol, tobacco, which can lead to emotional disturbances, cause feelings of loneliness, even to people who have excellent relationships.”
“This is a very interesting phenomenon and is probably due to the fact that our brain has evolved over millions of years and is ready to recognize a company when it is physically present,” explained the researcher.
“By insisting on systematically trying to connect, not just receiving and transmitting information, but having a greater aspiration to connect socially with others, our brains don’t fully receive the information that they are with someone and this creates feelings of loneliness and we Now you know that the more people use social networks, the lonelier they become, which is paradoxical,” he continued.
