The impact of COVID-19-related smell dysfunction on sexual and mental wellbeing: Data from a longitudinal sample

IF 2.7 3区医学 Q1 BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Biological Psychology Pub Date : 2025-02-01 DOI:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2025.109002

Marlise K. Hofer , Laura Blume , Brianna J. Turner , Laura Schäfer , Ilona Croy , Thomas Hummel

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

Olfactory disorders are associated with poor sexual and mental wellbeing, but prior work mainly consists of retrospective and cross-sectional reports. The current study assessed their prospective associations.

Methods

73 patients with COVID-19-associated olfactory dysfunction were recruited between 2021 and 2023 at a Smell Clinic in Dresden, Germany. Patients were assessed twice, about 6 months apart. On each occasion, patients’ olfactory functioning (i.e., psychophysical tests and self-rated function) and sexual and mental wellbeing were measured (i.e., sexual frequency, sexual desire, wellbeing, anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms).

Results

Within-person improvements in psychophysical olfactory functioning were associated with increased sexual frequency. In a subset of 51 people in stable romantic partnerships, improved psychophysical olfactory functioning predicted increased sexual frequency and increased sexual desire. No evidence emerged supporting an association between improvements in olfactory functioning and mental health or wellbeing outcomes

Conclusions

A decline in sexual function may be an early reaction to olfactory dysfunction. Individuals with recent onset of olfactory disorders may benefit from sexual health support.

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covid -19相关嗅觉功能障碍对性和心理健康的影响：来自纵向样本的数据。

目的：嗅觉障碍与不良的性和心理健康有关，但之前的工作主要是回顾性和横断面报道。目前的研究评估了它们之间的潜在联系。方法：在2021年至2023年期间，在德国德累斯顿的一家嗅觉诊所招募了73名与covid -19相关的嗅觉功能障碍患者。患者两次评估，间隔约6个月。每次都测量患者的嗅觉功能（即心理物理测试和自评功能）以及性和心理健康（即性频率、性欲、幸福感、焦虑症状和抑郁症状）。结果：人的心理物理嗅觉功能的改善与性生活频率的增加有关。在51名有稳定恋爱关系的人中，心理物理嗅觉功能的改善预示着性生活频率和性欲的增加。没有证据支持嗅觉功能的改善与心理健康或幸福结果之间的关联。结论：性功能下降可能是嗅觉功能障碍的早期反应。最近出现嗅觉障碍的个体可能受益于性健康支持。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Biological Psychology 医学-行为科学

CiteScore

4.20

自引率

11.50%

发文量

146

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： Biological Psychology publishes original scientific papers on the biological aspects of psychological states and processes. Biological aspects include electrophysiology and biochemical assessments during psychological experiments as well as biologically induced changes in psychological function. Psychological investigations based on biological theories are also of interest. All aspects of psychological functioning, including psychopathology, are germane. The Journal concentrates on work with human subjects, but may consider work with animal subjects if conceptually related to issues in human biological psychology.