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Item Being paid to be a student: risks and rewards – an exploratory mixed-methods study(2025) McIntyre, Safina; Miller, Kathleen; Paananen, Tanya; Shelast, YvonneBackground: Baccalaureate nursing students conclude their education with a preceptorship experience to integrate and consolidate knowledge, skills, and attributes in a clinical setting. Within the Canadian context, there is a lack of understanding about the experience of student compensation during the preceptor experience. Objective: To understand the perceptions of fourth-year nursing students and their instructors regarding the benefits and challenges of students participating in a compensated preceptorship initiative. Methods: This study used an exploratory mixed-methods design. Participants were fourth-year students in a bachelor of science in nursing preceptorship course and their assigned instructors at a university in Western Canada. This study used a survey design to collect student perceptions about the benefits and challenges of having their preceptorship experience in either a compensated or a traditional model. Survey design also gathered faculty perceptions of the benefits and challenges of teaching in these two models. Results: A total of 25 student participants completed the survey, 23 of whom were satisfied with their choice to participate or not participate in the compensated model. The benefits of choosing to participate were being compensated, being part of the system, and having a job after completing their studies. Challenges include missing the student role, poor communication, and pushbacks from staff and other students. The benefits of choosing not to participate were the opportunity to stay in a chosen placement and being under less pressure, while challenges included financial strain and not having a job lined up after completing their studies. Five of seven faculty indicated that the compensated preceptorship experience provided less opportunity for consultation on program concepts and learning opportunities. Conclusion: Student participants were overall satisfied with their choice to participate or not participate. Faculty members were cognizant of the financial strain on students but worried about the impact on learning in compensated environments. Given the mixed perceptions noted by faculty and students, there is a need for better understanding of how best to implement these initiatives.Item One-year changes in depressive symptoms and cognitive function among Brazilian older adults attending primary care(2025) Rivoli, Fernanda Maria Silva; Galhardo, Antonio Pedro Gabriel Monteiro; Lucchetti, Giancarlo; Esper, Lízia Abreu; Ribeiro, Yan Lyncon; de Souza Santos, Gerson; José, Helena; Sousa, Luís; Low, Gail; Vitorino, Luciano MagalhãesAging is a global phenomenon closely associated with changes in cognitive function and mental health. These conditions substantially burden public health systems and adversely affect the quality of life of older adults. This study aimed to examine changes in depressive symptoms and cognitive function over a 12-month follow-up period in a cohort of Brazilian older adults attending primary care. Methods: This observational longitudinal study included a randomized sample of individuals aged ≥60 years residing in São Paulo, Brazil, and registered at a Primary Healthcare Unit (PHU). Data collection involved administering a sociodemographic and health questionnaire along with two validated instruments: the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Linear regression models were used for the analyses. Results: A total of 368 older adults were included, with 63% being men and a mean age of 74.65 years. After one year, depressive symptoms showed a notable increase, with the mean GDS-15 score rising from 5.97 to 7.48 (Cohen-d = 0.542). Likewise, there was a decrease in the mean MMSE score ranging from 19.11 to 18.88 (Cohen-d = 0.216). Adjusted regression analyses revealed that depressive symptoms at baseline (B = 0.696; p = 0.048; R2 = 0.19) and cognitive function at baseline (B = 0.444; p < 0.001; R2 = 0.26) were predictive of their respective deteriorations over the follow-up period. Conclusions: Depressive symptoms and cognitive decline place a significant burden on public health systems in aging societies. These findings underscore the importance of continuous monitoring and early intervention strategies to mitigate their impact and enhance the quality of life for older adults.Item What really matters in old age? A study of older adults’ perspectives on challenging old age representations(2024) von Humboldt, Sofia; Low, Gail; Leal, IsabelAim: Older age is not a homogenous or stereotypical experience. Age-stereotypical representations can often be disconnected from older people’s own experiences. Challenging the status quo is relevant for aging well. The aim of this study is to analyze older adults’ perspectives on stereotypical versus their own age representations. Method: This qualitative study included a sample of 433 older adults who were 65 to 74, 75 to 84, and 85+ years of age. Content analysis was carried out. Results: Findings from this study indicated that the great majority of the participants (88%) did not identify with stereotypical age representations. This was so among participants in the 65–74 age group in relation to Showing a sense of agency (81.1%); Feeling spiritual (73.4%); Having meaningful goals (72.2%); Holding a significant social network (70.9%); Staying tuned to the world (67.1%); and feeling physically attractive (59.8%). Participants who were 75–84 years of age clarified what physical health (81.0%) and surviving chronic illnesses (78.9%), autonomy (75.5%), being socially active (74.9%), and staying mentally active (70.1%) represent at that age. The +85 years age group drew attention to No pain or physical limitations (95.6%), Physical health (93.1%), Cognitive autonomy (87.1%), Staying tuned to society and the world (76.3%); and Mobility (72.2%). Conclusions: Participants’ favoring their own over stereotypical thinking about people their age represents inner resourcefulness and a penchant for aging well. Collaborative partnerships for sharing such wisdom around could enrich policy programs and interventions that favor inclusivity and fight ageism, fostering a more accurate perspective of what it means to be a certain ‘age’ versus simply being ‘old’.Item Exploring moral categorizations and symbolic boundaries around people living with HIV in a correctional setting(2022) Wadams, MorganFor people living with HIV, correctional facilities, such as jails, prisons, and remand centers in Canada are complex environments at the intersection of health, justice, social, and criminal systems. Turning toward experiences, I explore my stories and observations of working with people living with HIV as a registered nurse in a large correctional facility in Western Canada. Based upon a narrative understanding of experience, I inquire into these stories and observations through the application of Mary Douglas’ theoretical work on purity versus impurity and Michèle Lamont’s symbolic boundary work. I engage in a reflective dialogue with the newfound meanings and understandings produced and discuss significant personal, practice-based, social, and policy-based insights within the context of my nurse researcher-practitioner role. This dialogue draws attention and raises questions about social practices, HIV-related stigma, correctional nursing, and the particularities of life evident within correctional facilities. Clinical implications for correctional nurses are discussed.Item Teaching assistant development and contributions in online, MOOC, and blended synchronous settings: an integrative review(2022) Wadams, Morgan; Schick-Makaroff, KaraHigher education institutions are expanding the delivery of online and remote learning courses in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In turn, numerous challenges are foregrounded for those who are preparing and delivering these courses, including instructors, administrators, and teaching assistants. The purpose of our integrative review was to explore both the roles and responsibilities of teaching assistants in online, blended synchronous learning, and massive open online course modalities, as well as strategies for administrators and instructors to develop teaching assistants in these settings. A systematic search of databases and grey literature produced 1,603 texts; 42 were included for data analysis. We found that teaching assistant roles and responsibilities, as well as strategies to develop teaching assistants, are diverse and often poorly articulated. Roles and responsibilities were dependent upon the teaching assistant’s previous pedagogical experiences and comfort level with non-traditional learning environments, institutional leadership, communication by the course instructor and the unique learning environment itself. Strategies to develop teaching assistants were often underdeveloped and influenced by resource constraints and institutional stances towards teaching assistant professional development programmes. Teaching assistant development across the three modalities primarily involved ‘on-the-job’ training, suggesting a need for further professional development interventions to be designed, delivered and evaluated. Results are synthesised and presented in pragmatic checklists to aid teaching assistants, instructors and administrators with planning and carrying out the three teaching modalities. Our results form the basis of an evidence-informed approach to assist institutions transitioning towards non-traditional learning environments.Item Qualitative research in correctional settings: researcher bias, western ideological influences, and social justice(2018) Wadams, Morgan; Park, TanyaWithin correctional settings, justice, health, and academic systems overlap for forensic nurse researchers. Within an environment that stresses social control, a researcher's implicit views, perspectives, and biases can lead to altering the authentic (re)presentation of a participant's experience. Researcher bias may be influenced by predominately western ideologies and societal discourses. Qualitative methods to mitigate and raise awareness around researcher biases include bracketing, unstructured interviews, diverse peer review, thinking inductively, investigator responsiveness, and critical reflexivity. In addition to these methods, a social justice perspective should be included within the ethical foundation, guiding theories, and worldview in the research design to mitigate western ideological influences on researcher bias. Finally, a forensic nurse researcher should consider how possible western influences on researcher bias impact their ethical and moral obligation to their participants, the research community, and their clinical practice.Item Problematizing transitions in relation to correctional centres for people living with HIV: unpacking the taken for granted(2021) Wadams, MorganTransitions into and out of correctional facilities for people living with HIV are a pivotal point in the HIV treatment cascade where adherence metrics are significantly affected. In this paper I use Alvesson and Sandberg’s problematization method of literature analysis to critique and understand the taken-for-granted assumptions underpinning how knowledge is generated within the intersecting fields of HIV, transitions, and corrections. Utilizing problematization, two assumptions underpinning knowledge generation are identified: the linearity of the HIV care continuum model and the tendency to create and perpetuate spatially segregating metaphors of transitions inside versus outside correctional facilities for people living with HIV. These assumptions are discussed in the context of how they shape dominant ways of thinking and practicing in the field. An alternative way to understand transitions for people living with HIV is proposed along with recommendations to guide the HIV care practices of nurses and other healthcare providers.Item Narrative coherence and relational agency: unraveling transitions into and out of Alberta correctional facilities for people living with HIV(2024) Wadams, Morgan; Grekul, Jana; Lessard, Sean; de Padua, Anthony; Caine, VeraIncarcerated populations in Canada face significant health and social challenges during transitions into and out of correctional facilities. These transitions around facilities pose disproportionate barriers to care for people living with HIV. Further research is crucial to comprehend these challenges and reimagine care concepts for people who experience structural marginalization. In this article, experiences of transitions into and out of Alberta correctional facilities for people living with HIV are explored using narrative inquiry. Conducted in a Western Canadian city from 2021 to 2022, the inquiry revolved around two men living with HIV and a history of incarceration. Through co-creating field texts and narrative accounts, their unique experiences of transitions were explored through a collaborative process of analysis. Narrative threads from Bruce and Kyle showcased a lack of narrative coherence and the presence of tensions in their lives, while also emphasizing relational agency. The findings provide avenues for health, social, and justice practitioners who support and care for individuals living with HIV and a history of incarceration to think differently about transitions. By highlighting the importance of attending to the unique identities of individuals and relationships from a position of relational agency, the study advances our understanding of transitions. Recommendations for practice and policy include (a) fostering relational agency among practitioners; (b) challenging conventional views of transitions around correctional settings; (c) incorporating peer-based programming into support services; and (d) reconsidering health, justice, and social systems to better support communities disproportionately affected by high rates of incarceration and HIV.Item Relational agency: an evolutionary concept analysis(2026) Wadams, Morgan; Kaushik, Mayank; Estefan, Andrew; de Padua, Anthony; Caine, VeraBackground: Relational agency has emerged across care disciplines to conceptualize agency as a process embedded in relationships. However, the concept remains underdeveloped in nursing and allied health literature—fields where relationship-building is central to care provision. Purpose: We clarify the concept of relational agency and explore its relevance and application to nursing practice. Methods: An evolutionary concept analysis was conducted using Rodgers’ method. Discussion: Relational agency has four attributes: individual growth, collaborative action, relational knowing, and as something that can be cultivated. Antecedents included recognition, respect, and the creation of relational and/or physical spaces of opportunity. Consequences resulted in the development of trust, resilience, empowerment, and the ability to imagine new possibilities. Conclusion: Relational agency offers a framework for relationship-building in nursing and allied health practice. It holds particular promise for addressing health disparities and improving care for populations who experience systemic barriers and distrust in formal health systems.Item Patterns of sexuality, adjustment to aging and satisfaction with life: a cluster analysis of adults across the lifespan(2024) von Humboldt, Sofia; Miguel, Isabel; Low, Gail; Leal, IsabelSexual satisfaction, adjustment to aging, and satisfaction with life are relevant dimensions of overall well-being across the life cycle. Through cluster analysis procedures, this study aims to describe the specific profile of adjustment to aging, sexual satisfaction and satisfaction with life of adults across the life span. This cross-sectional study involved a community-based sample of 619 Portuguese individuals, aged between 18 and 92 years old (M = 47.53 SD = 18.34) evaluated using a two-step cluster analysis. Fours clusters emerged. The most adjusted participants were mostly of a younger age, women and had a high education. The least adjusted participants globally presented low education, poor perceived health, and poor engagement in leisure activities. Well-being focused participants were mostly women of older age, with high education and spirituality. Finally, moderately satisfied participants were mostly men of older age, had a lower education, and presented poor reported health. Complementary comparative analysis among the identified subgroups was performed. The most adjusted participants had the highest perceived overall sexual well-being, sexual attractiveness, sexual openness and communication, and sexual satisfaction. These data characterize the profile of this population and can be used as the basis for developing efficient strategies aimed a combining adjustment to aging, satisfaction with life and sexual satisfaction for tailored interventions to the specific needs of populations across the lifespan.Item Sexual well-being in old age: effectiveness of an intervention program to promote sexual well-being in older community-dwelling adults(2024) von Humboldt, Sofia; Low, Gail; Leal, IsabelObjectives: While many people strive for a fulfilling sexual life as they age, the inevitable changes that come with aging can present significant challenges concerning their sexual well-being (SWB). This study aims to present a comparative analysis of the scores in the variables of sexual satisfaction, adjustment to aging (AtA), and satisfaction with life (SwL) before and after the implementation of an intervention program to promote SWB among older adults. Methods: A convenience sample of 117 older community-dwelling adults (M = 72.31; SD = 5.752) were included in this study, and an ex post facto longitudinal design was applied. A six-week intervention program aimed at improving older adults’ understanding and exchanging their experiences of SWB was performed. The following measures were utilized: (1) a sociodemographic, health and lifestyle questionnaire; (2) Adjustment to Aging Scale (AtAS); (3) Satisfaction with Life Scale (SwLS); (4) New Sexual Satisfaction Scale (NSSS-S); and (5) Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE). The specified assessment time points in this study were as follows: baseline and after intervention. A follow-up assessment was conducted 6 months and 12 months after the baseline measurement. Results: The results indicated an increase in the scores in sexual satisfaction, AtA, and SwL from before to after the intervention among the intervention group. Conclusions: The development of intervention programs in older communities is necessary to contribute to the enhancing older adults’ SWB and to explore the best practices for implementing tailored interventions within community settings.Item Hospital utilization by older and younger patients in Canada: pre-pandemic findings(2024) Wilson, Donna M.; Zhou, Yiling; Bolaji-Osagie, Sarah; Bryenton, Farrell M.; Dou, Qinqin; Low, GailMany countries are experiencing a post-pandemic surge in hospital utilization along with accelerating population aging. Maximal hospital efficiency is required, with utilization evidence essential for identifying appropriate hospital or broader health system reforms. We offer an investigation of the most recent pre-COVID year (2019–2020) of complete population-based hospital utilization data to describe and compare the use of hospitals by older (65+) and younger (0–64) people admitted for inpatient services in Canada. We found that 35.7% of all 1,888,133 admitted individuals and 39.8% of all 2,543,227 hospital episodes involved people aged 65+, representing 4,963,766 or 17.1% of the study population. This study, as do previous Canadian and other ones, found hospitals admit more younger people than older people. The admission and care patterns of both younger and older patients reveal a need for more community-based services to shorten older patient hospitalizations and prevent avoidable hospitalizations by both younger and older people.Item What sexual well-being really means for older adults: a systematic review of the literature(2025) von Humboldt, Sofia; Ribeiro-Gonçalves, José Alberto; Low, Gail; Leal, IsabelSexual well-being (SWB) is a significant and understudied element of older adults’ health and well-being, and quality of life. The goal of this systematic review is to identify the researched topics in this field and assess the quality of the research while minimizing bias through a peer-to-peer review process. We searched several databases, including the Cochrane Database, Psy-Redalyc, PubMed, Scielo, Scopus and Google Scholar, resulting in 181,278 references. Ultimately, 62 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. These studies involved over 46,500 individuals with ages ranging from 55 to 99, from twenty-one different countries. Our study identified a variety of variables under the concept umbrella of SWB, including sexual satisfaction, sexual health, sexual interest, sexual experiences and behaviors, sexual intimacy, expressions of love and attitudes toward sexuality in different countries. The studies reveal diverse perspectives on the determinants, expressions, and challenges associated with SWB in old age. Common themes such as the importance of sexual satisfaction, intimate relationships, and the rejection of a universal decline in sexual interest, challenge ageist stereotypes. The emergent concepts, including the linking of physical to emotional health, the impact of technology, the inclusion of LGBTQIA+, older couples and people now in their 80s and 90s underscore the multifaceted nature of SWB in later life. As societies continue to age, embracing a more inclusive and nuanced approach to research and interventions will be pivotal in enhancing the overall well-being for older individuals.Item From words to wounds: cyberbullying and its influence on mental health across the lifespan(2025) von Humboldt, Sofia; Low, Gail; Leal, IsabelCyberbullying can be prevalent across different life stages, with lasting traces on mental health across the lifespan. This study aims to (a) explore how cyberbullying is emotionally experienced across three distinct age groups and (b) analyze the influence of cyberbullying on mental health across the lifespan. This study included 883 participants divided into three age groups: 18–39, 40–59, and 60+. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather participants’ experiences and perspectives. The data were then subjected to content analysis, which revealed a number of themes. The first objective revealed the following themes: For ages 18–39: (a) feeling ashamed or humiliated (92.4%), (b) withdrawing from friends and family, and (c) experiencing harassment as positive and difficulties with rules. For ages 40–59: (a) losing interest in hobbies (89.5%), (b) questioning about things they did or did not do, and (c) experiencing a sense of missing out. For ages 60+: (a) negative thoughts and self-talk (91.3%), (b) feeling judged negatively, and (c) feeling financially vulnerable. The second objective showed: For 18–39: (a) depressive symptoms (79.7%), (b) easy anger, and (c) suicidal behavior. For 40–59: (a) anxiety (93.2%), (b) low self-esteem, and (c) the use of substances. For 60+: (a) frustration (78.1%), (b) isolation, and (c) disturbances in sleep and eating patterns. This study highlights the significant psychological and emotional impact of cyberbullying across age groups, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions that address the unique challenges faced by individuals at different life stages. The findings underscore the importance of developing age-specific strategies to mitigate the effects of cyberbullying and to have perpetrators take responsibility for their reckless disregard for others, and ultimately, themselves.Item Narrative coherence and relational agency: unraveling transitions into and out of Alberta correctional facilities for people living with HIV(2024) Wadams, Morgan; Grekul, Jana; Lessard, Sean; de Padua, Anthony; Caine, VeraIncarcerated populations in Canada face significant health and social challenges during transitions into and out of correctional facilities. These transitions around facilities pose disproportionate barriers to care for people living with HIV. Further research is crucial to comprehend these challenges and reimagine care concepts for people who experience structural marginalization. In this article, experiences of transitions into and out of Alberta correctional facilities for people living with HIV are explored using narrative inquiry. Conducted in a Western Canadian city from 2021 to 2022, the inquiry revolved around two men living with HIV and a history of incarceration. Through co-creating field texts and narrative accounts, their unique experiences of transitions were explored through a collaborative process of analysis. Narrative threads from Bruce and Kyle showcased a lack of narrative coherence and the presence of tensions in their lives, while also emphasizing relational agency. The findings provide avenues for health, social, and justice practitioners who support and care for individuals living with HIV and a history of incarceration to think differently about transitions. By highlighting the importance of attending to the unique identities of individuals and relationships from a position of relational agency, the study advances our understanding of transitions. Recommendations for practice and policy include (a) fostering relational agency among practitioners; (b) challenging conventional views of transitions around correctional settings; (c) incorporating peer-based programming into support services; and (d) reconsidering health, justice, and social systems to better support communities disproportionately affected by high rates of incarceration and HIV.Item Quantification of Black bodies: Anti-black racism in research(2025) Oyelana, Olabisi; Asirifi, Mary; Gateri, Hellen; Edwards, Fiona; Intungane, Doriane; Kimei, Janet; Khalema, EmilyIt is time to start interrogating the legacy of colonialism that privileges a Eurocentric system of knowing within the Canadian education system and examine the research experiences of Black researchers. Many Black researchers continue to struggle with limited funding to conduct their research projects and many are faced with the issue of access to research mentorship. While Black scholars are restricted by these challenges, the Black populations are often researched by researchers who have little or no knowledge about their experiences. Moreover, the colonial constructs that pervade academia have relegated Black scholars and racialized groups as illegitimate knowledge producers. Our stories of lived experiences cannot be adequately represented by numbers nor by an outsider. This article argues that it is time to center the research experiences of Black researchers through the lenses of Critical race theory (CRT) and an anti-Black racism (ABR) framework. Our way of knowing creates a space for us to share and document voices alongside participants. hooks (1994) offered a way to think about personal experience as, “a way of knowing that is often expressed through the body, what it knows, what has been deeply inscribed on it through experience” (p. 36). This complexity of experience can rarely be named from a distance, neither can it be quantified into statistical data. Therefore, this article is inspired by the research agenda of Black female academics from a Canadian university. We view ourselves as legitimate knowledge producers with a keen interest in decolonizing research.Item Balancing burden and bond: challenges and motivations of family caregivers of patients with end-stage liver disease in Northern Ghana—a qualitative inquiry(2025) Asirifi, Mary; Dogtir, Jacob Deri; Adjei, Charles Ampong; Kyei, Josephine M.; Ani-Amponsah, Mary; Marfo, Emmanuel A.Objective: This study explored the burdens and motivations of family caregivers (FCs) for patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) in a tertiary hospital in Ghana. Design: A qualitative exploratory, descriptive approach with a purposive sampling technique was adopted. Data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using content analysis. Setting: Participants were recruited from a tertiary hospital in the Northern Region of Ghana. Participants: 15 FCs aged between 18 and 50 years caring for patients with ESLD were recruited. Results: The study’s findings revealed that FCs of individuals with ESLD encountered considerable challenges, including sleep deprivation, physical exhaustion, family conflicts, financial difficulties and social restrictions. These difficulties contributed to a sense of being overwhelmed as caregivers strived to fulfil their duties. Family bonds, reciprocal relationships and religious obligations were the motivation/driving force for FCs caring for relatives with ESLD. Conclusion: Integrating palliative care services in tertiary health facilities will reduce the burdens FCs of patients with ESLD face. Relevant stakeholders in the health sector need to develop culturally sensitive interventions to support FCs caring for patients with ESLD in Ghana.Item Internal structure validity and internal consistency reliability of the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire: a systematic review protocol(2023) Gowani, Ambreen Amir Ali; Low, Gail; Norris, Colleen; Hoben, MatthiasThe Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) is one of the most used tools to measure health-related quality of life in heart failure. Despite extensive use in research, evidence on the MLHFQ’s internal structure validity remains heterogeneous and inconclusive. There are no known reviews that systematically summarise the evidence related to the MLHFQ’s factor structure (internal structure validity). This gap highlights a need to critically appraise, summarise and compare the available evidence on the internal structure and internal consistency reliability (ICR) of the MLHFQ.Item Mentally healthy living after pandemic social distancing: a study of older Canadians reveals helpful anxiety reduction strategies(2024) Low, Gail; Gutman, Gloria; Gao, Zhiwei; França, Alex Bacadini; von Humboldt, Sofia; Vitorino, Luciano Magalhães; Wilson, Donna M.; Allana, HunainaThroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, older Canadians were the most at risk of severe physical harm, including death, and their return to post-COVID life was expected to be especially anxiety-provoking. A study was conducted to obtain nationally representative evidence of older Canadians' self-perceived anxiety levels and their strategies to manage or mitigate it as public health restrictions were lifting.Item "Until COVID-19 do us part": a qualitative study on perceived sexual intimacy and mental health in heterosexual older couples during the COVID-19 pandemic(2024) Low, Gail; von Humboldt, Sofia; Leal, IsabelThis study aims to explore the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on heterosexual older couples’ sexual intimacy and in relation to their mental health. A content analysis of the ideas and insights shared by 391 older persons (between 65 and 87 years of age) from three different countries was most instructive. The most frequent themes were less sexual satisfaction (68%) and less sexual desire (67%). In terms of mental health, the most frequent themes included less anxiety and distress (78%) and greater attention to negative emotional states (55%) Cultural differences emerged, with Brazilian and Portuguese participants more frequently reporting negative themes compared to British participants, who emphasized stronger emotional bonds. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, ongoing research and interventions should prioritize understanding and addressing the implications of reduced physical contact and heightened emotional stress on sexual intimacy.