Lack of desire, a recurring consequence of excessive use of the Internet. Photo: Shutterstock
The cost of spending long hours visiting social networks on a mobile phone can have an impact on physical and mental health. A recent study indicates that the excessive consumption of these platforms, is synonymous with sexual anguish in both men and women.
Addictive use of social media could be a risk factor for impaired sexual function, according to new research published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
“There is a growing awareness that the use of social networks can acquire the characteristics of an addiction. When that happens, it can worsen the mood, “said the study’s author Rui Miguel Costa from the William James Research Center in Ispa, Portugal.
For their research, Costa and colleagues analyzed the responses of sexually active male and female participants in two separate assessments:
Social networks produce frustration. Photo: Shutterstock.
In the first phase, 946 women and 235 men completed assessments of sexual function and problematic smartphone use.
In the second phase, they examined the case of 536 women and 194 men who completed assessments of sexual function and problematic use of social networking sites.
The fact that affects them is that all participants he had been sexually active with partner of the opposite sex in the past month.
To measure the problematic use of social networking sites, participants answered a series of questions such as “Do you neglect housework to spend more time on social networking sites?”.
Add to that “Do other people in your life complain about the amount of time you spend online?” and “Is your work performance or productivity affected by staying on social networking sites?”
Study on sex and the use of social networks: results
In men it is associated with erection problems. Photo: Shutterstock
The researchers found that the problematic use of social networking sites was associated sexual distress and worsening of sexual functioning.
Men reported having a decreased erectile function and desiregeneral sexual dissatisfaction and greater difficulty having orgasms.
Women, on the other hand, were found to have lower arousal, difficulty lubricating and having orgasms, sexual dissatisfaction, coital pain, and increased sexual distress.
The researchers also found an association between sexual distress and decreased sexual functioning with problematic smartphone use.
“It is beneficial to reduce the use of social networks if it often interferes with daily activities, work, sleep, personal relationships or face-to-face social interactions in general,” Costa warned.
However, once the researchers checked their data on problematic use of social networking sites and decreased sexual functioning, the relationship between sexual dysfunction and smartphone use nearly disappeared.
This indicates that smartphone use alone may not lead to addiction issues and associated sexual distress.
“So it appears to be compelling use that is primarily associated with impaired sexual function, not smartphone use which is addictive per se,” Costa said.
SL
Source: Clarin
