The Association between Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and Insomnia Symptoms with Marital Intimacy during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused mild to severe mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, trauma and sleep disorders. It also affects the psychosexual health. Sexual health is an important facet of life that needs attention to maintain a good quality of life. However, not many studies have examined the correlation between these dyads, specifically intimacy between married couples and the psychological problems occuring during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to determine which mental health problems (symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, and insomnia) were the most predictors of marital intimacy during the pandemic in Indonesia. In an online survey method, from the results of 930 married respondents, intimacy was found to have a negative correlation with anxiety symptoms (rs = - 0.28, p < 0.001), depression symptoms (rs = - 0.35, p < 0.001), trauma symptoms (rs = - 0.37, p < 0.001) and insomnia symptoms (rs = - 0.32, p < 0.001). Depression is found to be the most predictive factor among all mental health problems to intimacy. This relationship was associated with several factors, including decreased partner’s libido, erectile function, ineffective communication, separation, fatigue, emotional dysregulation and loneliness. A program to mitigate these problems should be planned for primary and governmental healthcare levels.