Help-seeking for sexual difficulties and the potential role of interactive digital interventions: findings from the third British National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles

Abstract

Sexual difficulties are common and can negatively impact health and wellbeing. A wide range of support is available, but there are multiple barriers to accessing help. Interactive Digital Interventions (IDIs) for sexual difficulties have the potential to provide a convenient, wide-reaching and cost-effective source of support but little is known about who might use them. We explored their potential reach by assessing the prevalence of help-seeking among people with distressing sexual difficulties, including who seeks which sources of help. Data came from sexually active men and women aged 16-74 participating in Britain’s third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (N = 11,637). Help/advice was sought by less than half of those with distressing sexual difficulties and help-seeking was associated with younger age in women but not men. The most popular sources of support were family doctor (47.5-54.8%), Internet (22.0-25.6%), and family/friend (20.7-41.8%), with older participants (≥35), particularly men, preferring to seek help from a family doctor, and younger (<35) from the Internet or family/friend. Despite a paucity of good digital-support sites for sexual function, the Internet is a common source of help. As Internet access continues to increase, so too does the potential for well-designed IDIs to support those with sexual difficulties.

More information

Identifiers

ORCID for Cynthia Graham: orcid.org/0000-0002-7884-599X

Catalogue record

Export record

Altmetrics